MANILA – State-run Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Saturday did not discount the possibility of floodings in Central Luzon despite the generally fair weather expected nationwide until next week.
“Thunderstorms can trigger flooding in Central Luzon,” said PAGASA hydrologist Jason Bausa said, noting this agency hasn’t yet discounted possible occurrence of these weather disturbances.
He noted rain from thunderstorms may end up as flood in Central Luzon areas, where soil was already saturated with water due to previous downpour.
“Water-saturated soil will no longer be able to absorbthunderstorms’ rain so flooding results,” he said.
Exacerbating Central Luzon’s risk for such flooding is water runoff from downpour ‘Lawin’ dumped in Northern Luzon this week, he said.
Typhoon ‘Lawin’ battered Northern Luzon after making a landfall in Cagayan province as a super typhoon.
In its ‘Lawin’ situation report 5 released Saturday (Oct. 22), National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 118 villages were reported flooded with water almost 1.0 meter high.
The villages are in Central Luzon’s Bataan and Pampanga provinces as well as Pangasinan province in Region I, noted NDRRMC.
PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said thunderstorms were still possible in Central Luzon and other areas of the country despite generally favorable weather forecast for the country until next week.
The chance for thunderstorms is already lower unlike during the annual southwest monsoon or ‘habagat’ during which these weather disturbances are common, however, he clarified.
He noted meteorological conditions are already transitioning from ‘habagat’ to the northeast monsoon or ‘amihan,’ thus decreasing incidence of thunderstorms can be expected in forthcoming weeks.
“During ‘amihan,’ there can just be isolated thunderstormincidents,” he said.
According to PAGASA, ‘amihan’ affects the Philippines’ eastern portions from October to late March.
PAGASA also said ‘amihan’ is characterized by “widespread” cloudiness with rains or showers.
‘Amihan’ starts over Siberia as cold, dry air mass, PAGASA said.
Such mass gathers moisture while traveling across the Pacific Ocean towards the Philippines, PAGASA added. Catherine Teves/PNA-northboundasia.com