On February 17, while millions of people are joyfully welcoming the first day of the new year, the weather seems to be less supportive of entertainment plans.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that instead of ideal sunshine for spring trips, the sky on New Year's Day is double-shocked by two bad weather patterns.
The north of Luzon Island is being strongly affected by the northeast monsoon, while the capital Manila and the rest of the country are suffering from drafts carrying moisture from the Pacific Ocean blowing in.
In northern mountainous provinces such as Cagayan valley or Cordillera region, people have to huddle in the cold and thick fog. Strong monsoons cause scattered light rain, making steep mountain passes slippery, causing great difficulties for families planning to drive home or go to the highlands to celebrate Tet.
Meanwhile, in the bustling capital Manila, the weather diễn biến in an unpredictable "cowardly" style. Humid winds from the sea continuously push clouds into the mainland, causing sudden showers or thunderstorms in broad daylight.
This type of weather is forecast to disrupt typical outdoor cultural activities such as lion and dragon dances in the Binondo Chinatown or street parades that attract many tourists.
Faced with this situation, the Philippine meteorological agency has issued a high level of safety warning. People are advised not to be subjective to thunderstorms that seem harmless. Localized heavy rain in a short time can completely trigger the risk of flash floods or landslides, especially in low-lying areas and hillsides.
At sea, tourism activities are also significantly affected. The eastern Philippines sea area is forecast to have strong gusts of wind, sea waves rising from moderate to violent, causing danger to small boats and coastal recreational activities.
However, amidst the gloomy weather picture, there is still a bright spot for people to feel secure in welcoming Binh Ngo Tet 2026: Currently, no low pressure areas have been recorded near the area. This means that there will be no tropical storms forming in the coming days, helping people reduce their worries about natural disasters to enjoy their holidays with their families.
