Rainy Christmas Eve in parts of Luzon, Eastern Visayas due to shear line

MANILA, Philippines – The shear line was causing a rainy Christmas Eve in Southern Luzon, Central Luzon, and Eastern Visayas on Tuesday, December 24.

The shear line refers to the point where cold air from the northeast monsoon or amihan converges with the easterlies or warm winds from the Pacific Ocean.

In an advisory issued at 5 pm on Tuesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the shear line is affecting the following areas:

Tuesday noon, December 24, to Wednesday noon, December 25

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 millimeters): Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Northern Samar

Wednesday noon, December 25, to Thursday noon, December 26

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Norte
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Isabela, Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon

Thursday noon, December 26, to Friday noon, December 27

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Aurora, Quezon
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Cagayan, Isabela, Camarines Norte

Floods and landslides are likely, especially in areas with heavy to intense rain.

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Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon was also bringing some rain to Cagayan Valley and the Cordillera Administrative Region on Christmas Eve. PAGASA said the rain may be moderate to at times heavy.

The Ilocos Region could also see isolated light rain due to the northeast monsoon, but the weather bureau said there will be “no significant impact.”

The rest of the Philippines have generally fair weather, with just isolated rain showers or thunderstorms caused by the easterlies.

So far, no new low pressure area or potential tropical cyclone is being monitored.

The country’s last tropical cyclone was Romina, which did not enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) but was still given a local name last Sunday, December 22, because it was affecting Kalayaan Islands in the West Philippine Sea.

Romina intensified from a tropical depression into a tropical storm on Monday, December 23 — the same day it also moved away from Kalayaan Islands. Its international name is Pabuk. – Rappler.com