Chilly weather, expected in several parts of Philippines

JUST LIKE Michael Bublé predicted in his popular seasonal song, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the Philippines, with chilly weather expected in numerous regions of the country. 

According to PAGASA, the shearline and northeast monsoon will bring colder weather to numerous portions of Luzon, while Mindanao will be influenced by the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).

Photo Courtesy: PAGASA-DOST

Furthermore, the state meteorological office has stated that the shearline would cause cloudy skies with scattered rainfall and thunderstorms in Quezon, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, and Bicol Regions. 

Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, SOCCSKSARGEN, Caraga, and Davao Region will all have cloudy skies with scattered rainfalls and thunderstorms, owing to the ITCZ. 

The northeast monsoon will bring clouds and rain to Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Aurora.

Photo Courtesy: PAGASA-DOST

Meanwhile, the rest of Mindanao and Visayas will have partly cloudy sky with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms caused by localized storms. Mentro Manila and the rest of Luzon will get isolated light rainfall.

Baguio, well renowned for its chilly atmosphere, which makes it a popular destination for those seeking to escape the chaos of Manila, could see temperatures as low as 13 degrees Celsius today.

Longer nights ahead

Just last week, the weather bureau PAGASA announced that Filipinos can expect longer evenings from December 2024 to February 2025, with the shortest day on December 21 due to the winter solstice.

“[December 21] marks the shortest day and the longest night in the northern hemisphere, when the Sun reaches its southernmost position in the sky, in the constellation of Capricornus at a declination of 23.5°S,” it said.

“Astronomers consider this day as the start of winter in the northern hemisphere, and summer in the southern hemisphere. Mas matagal na lumiwanag,” said weather forecaster Glaiza Escullar to a media.

Aside from the cold weather and longer nights, PAGASA stated that they are watching a tropical storm in the southern Philippines and expect three meteorological systems to bring rain throughout the country.