On July 20 (Manila time), according to the latest weather forecast from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the southwest monsoon Habagat will continue to affect the western region of the country on July 21, causing showers and thunderstorms in many localities, while increasing the risk of flash floods and landslides.
In the weather bulletin broadcast at 4:00 PM on July 20, PAGASA said that the southwest monsoon continues to be the dominant weather pattern in the western Philippines.
According to forecasts, the capital Metro Manila, the entire Mindanao region, Ilocos region, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), MIMAROPA, Western Visayas and Negros Island Region will have cloudy skies, accompanied by scattered showers and thunderstorms.
Similar weather conditions are also forecast in Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite and Batangas provinces.
Meanwhile, the remaining areas of the Philippines are forecast to have weather from low to cloudy, accompanied by showers and localized thunderstorms due to the influence of convection.
PAGASA warns that strong thunderstorms can cause heavy rain in a short time, increasing the risk of flash floods and landslides, especially in low-lying areas or mountainous areas with weak soil.
The Philippine meteorological agency recommends that people regularly monitor weather reports and proactively implement disaster prevention measures if prolonged heavy rain occurs.
Regarding sea conditions, PAGASA forecasts that most sea areas of the Philippines will have light to moderate winds, while sea waves will fluctuate from 0.6m - 1.8m, corresponding to sea levels from calm to moderate.
In general, small-scale maritime activities can still take place smoothly. However, fishermen and boats are still advised to closely monitor weather developments because thunderstorms may appear unexpectedly.
Habagat is a southwest monsoon phenomenon that often appears during the rainy season in the Philippines, bringing a lot of moisture from the East Sea and often causing prolonged rain in the western areas of this country.
