PAGASA: Heavy rains in many areas until Christmas

Metro Manila, Philippines - Various parts of the country may experience heavy rains during Christmas week, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned on Tuesday, Dec. 24.

“Inaasahan natin na hanggang sa darating na pasko ay magpapatuloy ‘yong epekto ng shearline pati ng amihan. Aasahan natin for the next two days makakaranas po tayo ng pag-ulan dulot ng weather systems,” PAGASA weather specialist Rhea Torres said.

[Translation: We expect that until Christmas, the effects of the shear line and the amihan will cause rains in the next two days.]

In its 11 a.m. advisory, PAGASA said the shear line, where warm and cold air meet, may cause heavy to intense rainfall over Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Norte, and Catanduanes until the noon of Christmas Day.

Moderate to heavy rainfall is forecast over Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and Samar.

The northeast monsoon, or amihan, may bring cloudy skies with rains over Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Aurora, Bulacan, and Nueva Ecija.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains may be felt over the rest of Luzon.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms is expected over the rest of the country.

PAGASA warned of possible flooding and landslides in highly susceptible areas.