Improved weather on Christmas Day

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu and the rest of the Visayas are expected to experience improved weather conditions starting today, Dec. 22, until Christmas Day.

Engr. Al Quiblat, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)-Visayas chief, said that based on their monitoring, the region is expected to experience improved weather conditions, as the low pressure area (LPA) that has recently caused rains moves toward the West Philippine Sea.

“So wa na toy epekto dinhi sa Visayas…. Ugma mas maayo atong panahon nga masinati,” he told The Freeman during a telephone interview.

He explained that the rain showers experienced yesterday were caused by the “shear line,” or the meeting of warm winds and cold winds, which resulted in rain, and the Northeast Monsoon or Amihan.

He predicted that the shear line would already weaken today, thus lessening its effects in the Visayas.

In a 5 p.m. Dec. 21 advisory, PAGASA-Visayas said the shear line and the trough of tropical depression outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) are still affecting several areas in the Visayas.

The advisory noted that the entire Visayas region and Occidental Mindoro would be under the influence of the shear line, causing cloudy skies, scattered rain showers, and thunderstorms.

The expected conditions are moderate rainfall, with occasional heavy showers, particularly affecting Cebu, Antique, Aklan, Capiz, and nearby areas.

The weather advisory also stated that rainfall for the region is between 2.5-4.5 liters per square meter per hour, with occasional heavier showers of up to 7.5-15 liters per square meter per hour.

Cebu, including major cities like Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and several municipalities such as Balamban, Liloan, and Carmen, are expected to experience these conditions.

Specifically, the minimum temperature in Metro Cebu is 26 degrees Celsius to 31 degree Celsius with cloudy skies, rain showers, and thunderstorms, particularly in the afternoon and evening.

Quiblat said, though, that the improved weather will continue, as they have not seen any LPA entering the PAR until December 27.

With this, he said that Cebuanos can expect fair weather until next week.

“So, malibre ta sa atoa karon nga forecast up to the next five days; malibre ang atoang Pasko,” he said.

“Naay pag uwan-uwan pero dili pareho sa nahitabo karon,” he added.

He said, however, that Dec. 28 to Jan. 2 is a different matter, as their analysis indicates that another typhoon may enter the PAR.

Quiblat, though, said that even if a typhoon has been observed, the likelihood of tropical cyclone vortex formation is low.

Last Wednesday, Dec. 18, tropical depression Querubin weakened into an LPA, located 220 kilometers east of Surigao City. — (FREEMAN)