STATE weather forecasting agency Pagasa has reminded the public that classes are automatically suspended in areas where they issue orange or red rainfall alerts.
“Please take note that kapag nagtaas na tayo ng red rainfall or orange rainfall warning, automatically suspended na po ang ating mga klase as per Deped guidelines.
“Pero kapag meron tayong malalakas na pag-ulan, kapag meron tayong rainfall warning, or rainfall advisories lamang, pero malalakas ang pag-ulan, depende na rin po sa inyong local chief executives or LGU, kung magsu-suspend po ng klase,” Benison Estareja, Pagasa weather specialist said.
Recent rainfall warnings
RED RAINFALL ALERT
| PROVINCE | SPECIFIC TOWNS | TIME ISSUED |
| Misamis Occidental | 11:40 pm Wednesday | |
| Zamboanga del Norte | 11:40 pm Wednesday | |
| Siquijor | 2 am Thursday | |
| Negros Oriental | 2 am Thursday | |
| southern Cebu | 2 am, 5am Thursday | |
| Southern Leyte | 2 am Thursday | |
| southern portion of Leyte | Matalom, Bato, Hilongos, Hindang, Inopacan, Mahaplag, Abuyog, Baybay City | 2 am Thursday |
| Eastern Samar | 5am Thursday | |
| eastern portion of Southern Leyte | Sogod, Libagon, San Juan, Saint Bernard, Anahawan, Hinundayan, Hinunangan, Silago | 5am Thursday |
| Leyte | Santa Fe, Mahaplag, Baybay City, Abuyog, Javier, Macarthur, Mayorga, Dulag, Julita, La Paz, Burauen, Albuera, Tolosa | 5am Thursday |
Red means serious flooding is expected in low-lying areas and landslides in mountainous areas. The amount of rainfall may be more than 150,000 drums per square kilometer.
ORANGE RAINFALL ALERT
| PROVINCE | SPECIFIC TOWNS | TIME ISSUED |
| Leyte | Julita, Dulag, Burauen, Albuera, La Paz, Mayorga, Macarthur, Javier | 2 am Thursday |
| Cebu | Camotes Island | 2 am Thursday |
| Samar | ||
| Lanao del Norte | 11:45 pm Wednesday | |
| Cebu | central, northern Cebu | 6:34 am |
Orange rainfall alert was also up around 5 am Thursday in Southern Leyte, Negros Oriental, Siquijor and the rest of Leyte.
Orange rainfall means flooding is threatening. The amount of rainfall may be between 75,000 to 150,000 drums per square kilometer.
YELLOW RAINFALL ALERT
Meanwhile, yellow warning was issued last night in Zamboanga City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay.
This 5 am, Camotes Island in Cebu, Samar, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur got yellow flags, too.
Yellow warning means flooding is possible, and the amount of rainfall reach up to 75,000 drums per square kilometer.
More class suspensions
Although there was no recent red or orange rainfall alerts in their areas, some LGU’s have suspended classes for today:
- Bohol – all levels
- Cebu
- Carmen – elementary until Friday
- Danao City – all levels until Friday
- Lapu Lapu – elementary to senior high school (public)
- Mandaue – all levels
- Negros Occidental
- San Carlos City – all levels
- Bago City – elementary to senior high school
- Zamboanga City – all levels
What’s causing the rains in VisMin?
Twin weather disturbances — the Low Pressure Area and the Shear Line — are bringing the rains to most parts of Visayas and Mindanao.
Pagasa is continuously monitoring the LPA. Satellite data as of 3 am Thursday, it is located 380 kilometers east of Surigao City.
It is unlikely the LPA will form into a tropical depression. However, it will continue to shower moderate to heavy, with at times intense rains over the following areas:
- Eastern Visayas
- Central Visayas
- Zamboanga Peninsula
- Northern Mindanao
- Negros Occidental
- Agusan del Norte
- Surigao del Norte
- Dinagat Islands
Light to moderate, but occasionally heavy rains will be experienced in the following areas:
- Sorsogon
- Masbate
- Rest of Western Visayas
- rest of Caraga
- Lanao del Sur
