Fair weather seen until New Year

MANILA, Philippines - No weather disturbance is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility until New Year’s Day, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.

PAGASA weather forecaster Robert Badrina said generally fair weather is expected in most parts of the country in the next three to five days, aside from Cagayan Valley, which will experience light rains due to the northeast monsoon.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms.

“We no longer expect the development of a low-pressure area or tropical cyclone towards the end of 2015 or up to New Year, based on current forecast,” Badrina said.

A total of 15 cyclones have entered the country so far this year, slightly lower than the annual average of 19 to 20.

Meanwhile, PAGASA recorded yesterday the coldest temperature so far in Metro Manila since the northeast monsoon started in October.

Badrina said the lowest temperature in the capital dropped to 20 degrees Celsius at 5 a.m.

PAGASA recorded the coldest temperature of 13 degrees Celsius in Baguio City on Dec. 23.

Temperatures are expected to decrease further by January and February, the peak of the northeast monsoon.