Temperatures in Metro Manila dropped to a low of 19 degrees Celsius on Thursday the lowest during the so-called “amihan” season—even as a low-pressure area being monitored off Mindanao may develop into a tropical depression within 24 hours and become the first storm of 2019, the weather bureau said Friday.
The northeasterly winds chilled the National Capital Region to 19 degrees at 7:50 a.m. on Thursday, GMA News resident meteorologist Nathaniel “Mang Tani” Cruz reported on “24 Oras.”
Cruz, who formerly worked with the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, said the mercury was expected to dip to a low of 21 degrees on Friday.
Meanwhile, the weather system, which will be named “Amang,” may enter the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday and make landfall over Caraga region on Sunday, Pagasa forecaster Gener Quitlong said.
If the LPA develops into a tropical depression, storm warning signals may be raised over Eastern Samar and Caraga on Saturday, Quitlong added.
Due to the amihan’s surge, Pagasa raised a gale warning for the seaboards of Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Cagayan province. Small seacraft were urged not to venture out, as waters may get rough.
Moderate to heavy rains are expected to persist over Eastern Visayas, Caraga, Compostela Valley, and Davao Oriental on Saturday.
Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rains are expected to prevail over Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Southern Quezon, Mindoro provinces, Romblon, and Marinduque.
Flood warnings may be raised in almost all the river basins in the southern half of the country as the storm traverses its track, said hydrologist Ed dela Cruz.
Authorities will also closely monitor water levels in Angat Dam, which is slightly above its normal level, and Pantabangan Dam, which is located in the eastern side of Luzon, he said.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau also warned that 1,163 barangays in Calabarzon, 483 in Eastern Visayas, 101 in Northern Mindanao, 573 in Caraga, and 4 in the Davao Region may be affected by possible landslides or flooding.
Local government units are told to closely monitor rainfall in their area and initiate preemptive evacuation if necessary.
A comprehensive list of the barangays and their vulnerability to flooding and landslide has been transmitted to the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Office of Civil Defense. A geohazard map has also been uploaded on the MGB’s website.