MANILA, Philippines — A low pressure area (LPA) located South of Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur is less likely to develop into a tropical depression, according to PAGASA.

In its latest advisory, the state weather bureau said the effects of the tail-end of frontal system (shear line) will be affecting the Visayas region, Caraga, Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, Bangsamoro, Sorsogon, and Masbate.

Residents in the said areas will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms that may trigger flash floods due to moderate to heavy rains.

Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon is currently prevailing in most parts of Luzon including Cagayan Valley, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Aurora, Quezon, and rest of Bicol Region. 

Cloudy skies with light rains will prevail in these areas.

Similar weather system prevails in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon which may bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains throughout the day.

Meanwhile, the Davao Region and SOCCSKSARGEN will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers due to the effects of localized thunderstorms.

Residents are advised to brace for potential flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms.

MANILA, Philippines — Two low pressure areas (LPA) are expected to bring rains and potential floods over several areas in the country, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

As of 4:00 AM Monday (December 28), the first LPA was located 90 km East of Baler, Aurora while the other LPA was estimated based on all available data at 235 km Northwest of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

Likewise, the tail – end of a frontal system is now affecting extreme Northern Luzon.

The combined effects of the LPA and the frontal system will bring cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms over Cagayan Valley and Aurora provinces.

Meanwhile, the trough of LPA is expected to bring scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms over the areas of Quezon and the rest of Northern Luzon.

Over Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Caraga and Davao Region, the easterlies will bring cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. 

Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers due to localized thunderstorms.

The state weather agency and disaster management authorities warn residents in the areas mentioned of possible flash floods or landslides due to light to moderate with at times heavy rains.

PAGASA advised to monitor further updates through their website for developments of the weather systems.

MANILA, Philippines —The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced on Monday (December 21) that the ‘great’ conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn has begun and will be visible from December 21 to 25, 2020.

According to the agency, a conjunction occurs when planets appear close to one another in the sky because they line up with Earth in their respective orbits. 

‘Great’ conjunctions are the rarest and one of the brightest and closest on the average of conjunction between naked eye planets — Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn.

This year’s conjunction will be historic since it will be the closest since 1623, the closest observable since 1226, and will not happen again until March 15, 2080.

DOST-PAGASA Astronomical Observation and Time Service Unit Chief Mario Raymundo, said in a statement that the conjunction can be seen on the Western horizon and will be visible to the naked eye.

Raymundo assured the public that the astronomical event has no adverse effect because the two planets are extremely distant from Earth. MNP / Raymund David