Due to tropical depression: Rains to continue until Wednesday

CEBU, Philippines — The occasional rain the metro has experienced may persist until Wednesday due to the development of a tropical depression, which was earlier spotted by the weather bureau over the weekend.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)-Visayas Head Alfredo Quiblat, Jr. said their forecast shows that intermittent rains may occur in the region, including Cebu, until March 20.

He said the rainfall intensity may range from light to moderate.

Sudden rain poured over Cebu yesterday. PAGASA-Visayas attributed this rain occurrence to a localized thunderstorm, and not to the disturbance.

Quiblat said Cebu, on the succeeding days, may be affected by the trough (or extension) of the approaching Tropical Depression when it moves closer to the country’s landmass.

The tropical depression entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility yesterday morning, and was named "Chedeng" - the country's third tropical cyclone.

Chedeng is expected to make a landfall over the eastern coast of Davao Oriental between Monday evening or tomorrow morning.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, its center was located hovering over the seas about 830 kilometers east of Hinatuan town, Surigao del Sur, and moving in a westward direction at a speed of 25 kilometers per hour.

With its distance, its effects are expected to prevail in most parts of Mindanao.

It may sound odd for rains to occur amid the El Niño phenomenon but Quiblat said it is natural for tropical cyclones (or “bagyo” in local jargon) to develop when there is enough heat from the sea, which is its primary source of energy.

With the crippling effects of the weak El Niño, many people are clamoring for rains, while authorities are also finding ways to cope with the reduction of the province’s water supply.

Meanwhile, to enhance its weather forecasting, PAGASA has purchased the sixth weather surveillance doppler radar for Visayas that will be installed in Bohol soon.

Quiblat said this installation project, including the construction of the building in Bohol, costs almost P100 million.

The facility is expected to be operational before the year ends.

The existing doppler radars under Visayas PAGASA Regional Services Division are located in Mactan Island, Cebu; Guiuan in Eastern Samar; Iloilo City in Panay; and two in Palawan (Busuanga and Quezon).

A doppler radar is a radar tracking system using the Doppler effect to determine the location and velocity of a storm, clouds, precipitation, among other atmospheric cycles. (FREEMAN)