Pagasa: No Typhoons Until May-End

NO TYPHOONS are expected to develop or enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) for the rest of May, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said, even as Mindanao continues to experience heavy rainfall due to the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ).

In its 5 a.m. update on Thursday, May 22, the state weather bureau reported that the ITCZ remains active over Mindanao, bringing moderate to heavy rains and thunderstorms, particularly in the Davao Region.

Pagasa weather specialist Benison Estareja warned residents in affected areas to remain alert for possible flash floods and landslides, especially in landslide-prone zones. 

Since the second week of May, persistent rains in Davao Region have led to landslides and infrastructure damage, including the disruption of road access in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental.

From Thursday through Sunday, widespread rains will continue over large parts of Mindanao, Palawan, and the Visayas due to the ongoing ITCZ activity. 

The ITCZ is a weather system formed by the convergence of trade winds from the northern and southern hemispheres, often leading to thunderstorms and prolonged rainfall.

Meanwhile, the easterlies, warm winds blowing from the Pacific Ocean, are currently dominating weather patterns in Luzon and Visayas. These winds are expected to bring generally hot and fair weather, although isolated thunderstorms remain likely in the afternoon or evening.

Estareja confirmed that no low-pressure areas are being monitored either inside or near PAR for the remainder of May.

As for the official onset of the rainy season, the agency said this is not expected until early June. Estareja explained that to declare the start of the rainy season, Pagasa must observe five consecutive days of rainfall triggered by westerlies, particularly affecting the western sections of Luzon and Visayas.

“We are still under the influence of easterlies, so the conditions for the rainy season are not yet present,” Estareja said. “But we might see the onset in the first or second week of June, with the earliest likely in the first few days of the month.”

Despite the absence of storms, Pagasa urged the public to stay informed and take precautionary measures, especially in areas experiencing persistent rainfall due to the ITCZ. DEF