PAGASA: Fair weather in Cebu this week

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu as well as most areas of the country will have a fair weather this week.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration-Cebu head Alfredo Quiblat Jr. said they predicted that the southwest monsoon or Habagat may fully prevail over the country only by July. (Habagat brings rainfall and is commonly associated with the wet season.)

“Generally, there will be hot and humid weather conditions throughout the archipelago since the ridge (extension) of a high pressure area will be the dominant weather system affecting the country,” he said in a telephone interview with The FREEMAN yesterday.

If low pressure areas cause cloudiness and rainfall, a high pressure area is characterized by light winds and clear skies.

Quiblat said that because of the high pressure system, Metro Cebu may still continue to experience warmer days, with heat index reaching even up to 40 degrees Celsius.

The heat index is the presumed temperature the body may feel from the actual weather. The average normal body temperature is at 37 degrees Celsius.

Quiblat said weather in the afternoon until evening may be different since localized thunderstorms may develop due to the warm weather, which triggers constant evaporation and eventually results to condensation and then to rain or to the formation of thunderstorm clouds.

He said Cebuanos may not feel the rainy season yet since the province is still experiencing breaks from the monsoons.

The Southwest monsoon, which started last May 24, was one of the factors that brought rain to the country. Quiblat, though, said that it is still weak and has only affected the western sections of the country like Palawan.

Despite the predicted weather, he reminded people to always monitor the advisories they issue as significant changes in the weather pattern may yet occur. —/RHM (FREEMAN)