Cloudy, rainy week seen

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu is likely to experience mostly cloudy skies with rain showers and thunderstorms for the next seven days, the state weather bureau.

Despite cloudy to partly cloudy conditions with rain showers and thunderstorms, PAGASA-Visayas weather specialist Jhomer Eclarino said, Cebu, in general, will receive normal levels of rain with light to moderate winds and slight to moderate sea conditions.

He added that Cebu’s weather is seen to be normal with a temperature range of 25 to 32 degrees Celsius and a heat index of 37 to 38 degrees Celsius.

Although, he said, Cebu would still be affected by other weather systems, such as thunderstorms brought by the inter-tropical convergence zone, monsoon rains caused by southwest monsoon or “habagat”, and low pressure areas.

With the onset of the rainy season, Eclarino advised the public to be vigilant, especially those living in landslide and flashflood prone areas.

He also advised the public to be aware of the PAG-ASA hazard map and be always updated on weather.

The rainy season was officially declared by PAG-ASA on June 4, 2021.

1 to 3 cyclones

Meanwhile, one or two more tropical cyclones may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this month, Eclarino said.

The number of cyclones was based on the climatological tracks of the past cyclones for the month of June from 1948 to 2017, PAGASA’s climate monitoring and prediction section earlier said.

Once the two cyclones enter the PAR, they will be given local names “Emong” and “Fabian.”

Dante is the fourth tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the first for the month of June. The state weather bureau said up to 15 cyclones would enter or develop in the country from this month up to November.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported nine deaths caused by the onslaught of Tropical Storm Dante.

Also, 22,839 families or 93,683 people were affected by the storm in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Davao, Soccsksargen and Caraga.

Damage to agriculture was initially pegged at P86.1 million in all the affected regions.

In Mimaropa, Central Visayas, Soccsksargen and Caraga, damage to infrastructure was estimated at P53.7 million.

Based on the PAG-ASA data from 1948 to 2020, the third quarter had the most number of cyclones.

The months of July, August and September had three cyclones each. — Jean Aldemer Salgados, Silliman University Intern, KQD (FREEMAN)