Thunderstorms Forecasted in Metro Manila on SONA Day, Impact Expected to Be Limited

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila is forecast to experience scattered rains and thunderstorms during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, July 27, the state weather bureau reported. In its morning update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms would affect the following areas due to the continuing effect of the southwest monsoon: The southwest monsoon is also expected to bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms over the rest of Luzon. Pagasa weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said the rain would “not be as heavy compared to the previous days, when tropical cyclone Kiyapo was still affecting the country.” He also said the habagat is forecast to further weaken in the coming days. “Tomorrow, this southwest monsoon will affect the western part of Northern and Central Luzon. On Wednesday, the southwest monsoon is expected to move away from our country,” Aurelio said in Filipino. He added that the easterlies, or the warm winds coming from the Pacific Ocean, would then affect the country until Friday. No gale warning is currently in effect for any seaboard of the country, but fishermen are advised to remain vigilant for possible thunderstorms, especially in the afternoon and evening. As for Tropical Depression Noul (formerly Kiyapo), Aurelio said it was last located 1,015 kilometers west-northwest of Extreme Northern Luzon, outside the Philippine area of responsibility. It carries maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 90 kph, moving north-northwestward at 20 kph. The tropical depression no longer affects any part of the Philippines. /mcm