After days of outpouring rain, tropical storm ” Maring ” left the Philippine Area of Responsibility last Wednesday. But the burden was not yet over as monsoon trough will continue to bring scattered rainshowers over most parts of the country in the next two to three days. According to Rene Paciente, PagAsa weather forecaster, monsoon through would bring cloudy skies with scattered rains over Southern Luzon and Metro Manila, Visayas and Mindanao this weekend as well as Central and Northern Luzon, would have partly cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers. Expect more rains over the weekend and prepare for a series of floods and heavy traffic along areas prone to this.

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that the country will continue to experience scattered rainshowers in the next few days as the active low pressure area (LPA) off Northern Luzon intensified into a tropical depression yesterday. The new weather disturbance was named “Labuyo” ,the 12th tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the first this month. Labuyo was located 800 kilometers east of Northern Luzon, packing winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center as of 4 p.m. yesterday.

Pag-Asa has warned the public of the threatening drought due to the upcoming El Nino phenomenon. According to NEDA Deputy Director General Rolando Tungpalan, the drought season may be seen in late 2009 to 2010. He also added that the Department of Agriculture is already preparing contingency measures to curb its impact on corn and rice and to cushion its effect on food prices. DA is also expected to present its mitigation measures for budget deliberations next year.

Another weather disturbance was seen near Luzon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa). Pagasa said that the low pressure area earlier seen east northeast off Luzon. It will be named Kiko after the last tropical depression was given the name Jolina. Kiko was estimated to be at 1,070 kilometers East of Basco, Batanes packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center. According to the weather bureau, This disturbance is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon and bring occasional rains over Luzon and Western Visayas. It is also said that by Tuesday Morning, Kiko is expected to be at 870 kilometers East of Basco, Batanes by Wednesday morning.

Nathaniel Cruz, deputy administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that two or three tropical cyclones are likely to enter the Philippines next month. According to him, August is considered as the rainiest month of the year. An average of 20 tropical cyclones usually enter the Philippines every year, but only 50 percent of these make landfall or cross the country. So far, a total of nine tropical cyclones have already entered our Philippine Area of Responsibility.

As the typhoon “Isang” continues to stay in our country, it would definitely give more rains that will result to floods. Meanwhile, classes where suspended in different parts of Metro Manila and other provinces. “Isang” is expected to cross the Northern Luzon approaching to the South China Sea. Other parts of Luzon, including the Central Luzon, Metro Manila and the Southern Part will experience continuous rains as the effect of this tropical storm. “Isang” is the 9th tropical cyclone that entered our country this year. expect more typhoons to come as the PAGASA said we will be having a total of 19 typhoons this year.

Tropical Storm “Feria” has weakened into a tropical depression as it slowed down and changed its path, moving towards to the western direction. According to PAGASA, Storm signals have been lowered over the affected areas but the storm signal no.1 remains in Metro Manila. “Feria” was last spotted 105 kilometers west southwest of Subic, Zambales or 170 km west of Metro Manila. Some parts of the Central and Southern Luzon areas would still experience rains frequently. By Friday morning, PAGASA were expecting that “Feria” will be on 320 km west southwest of Laoag City and 380 km west of Basco, Batanes by Saturday. This must be the 6th storm that entered our Philippine Area of Responsibility, and there’s another 14 more to come until the end of this year.

July and August are the southwest monsoon season peaks as rains and typhoon kick off according to PAG-ASA. Pagasa Senior Weather Specialist Daisy Ortega said that this months are likely characterized by heavy rains and strong winds and thunderstorms associated with the southwest monsoon. Seven to 10 tropical cyclones are expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility between July and September, adding that the usual movement of the cyclones during this period. Development of an El Niño phenomenon next month is also expected next month according to Ortega. Well, in preparations for this upcoming weather disturbances we must all be prepared by always bringing with us an umbrella, a raincoat and boots. We must also protect our immune system thru proper vitamin-C intake. Also, we have to make sure that our house is protected from possible landslides and flashfloods that was expected during this rainy seasons.

According to PAG-ASA, there was no expected typhoons in our Philippine Area of Responsibility but we will experience series of monsoon rains. Luzon, including Metro Manila, will experience monsoon rains over the western section of the region, as it warned that the rains could cause flashfloods and landslides. Visayas region will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms. Rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening. The best thing for us to do is to always bring an umbrella or raincoat to protect ourselves.

PAGASA stated that we will expect rains when classes open next week, June 1. It will be experienced in Western section of the country, like in Metro Manila. A Low-pressure area (LPA) off extreme Northern Luzon could strengthen the Southwest monsoon and trigger rains including the Ilocos region, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Metro Manila and Western Visayas. It is also advised that we have to bring an umbrella and a raincoat to protect ourselves from the rain, specially to the affected areas.

Weather forecaster Nonoy About of PAG-ASA said the southwest monsoon is expected to set in next week based on the latest forecast. The southwest monsoon is the prevailing wind system during the rainy season,that means, an onset of an early rainy season is expected this May.He also warned the public about the occurrence of tornadoes due to severe thunderstorms.Luzon would continue to experience good weather in the next five days except for thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening due to warm weather.

Tropical Depression “Emong” has weakened already yesterday but it leaved a total number of 36 casualties and damages of about P411.24 million in agricultural side.However, PAG_ASA said,ITCZ will continue to bring scattered rain and thunderstorms over the Bicol Region, the Visayas and Mindanao in the next 24 hours.In the next five days, An improved weather is expected over Luzon, including Metro Manila, with isolated rains or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.

A total of 300 Hundred passengers are stranded when Philippine Coast Guard canceled their travel to Romblon and Mindoro.It is also in connection with Typhoon “Emong” .Public Storm Signal No.1 is now in Batangas and other Southern part of Luzon.It was also reported that “Emong” become stronger that Metro Manila is also under Signal No.1.This tropical storm has the speed of about 140kph and strong winds of about 170 kph.

Tropical Storm “Emong” is now on our Philippine Area of Responsibility today.Emong has 185 kph speed,and is expected to be a super typhoon by PAG-ASA.The storm is now approaching the North and Central Luzon.People from the Southern part of Luzon will be also experiencing the effect of this tropical depression.Expect to experience rains and floods as this storm stays.

After the disaster that Dante had brought to the Bicol region,another tropical storm is about to threaten the Northern and Central part of Luzon.Emong was located over the South China Sea or approximately 550 nautical miles west-southwest of Manila, packing winds of 85 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph.There is also a possibility that it will be developed into a typhoon or supertyphoon.