Heavy rains caused by ‘Domeng,’ ITCZ

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent .

THE heavy downpour here yesterday morning was a result of three weather systems: tropical depression “Domeng,” the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and a “local” thunderstorm.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) explained this even as it said the weather conditions could improve here today if “Domeng” continues to move away from the east Philippine sea.

Luz Mercado, a weather forecaster at the Pagasa station in El Salvador, Misamis Oriental, said the bad weather yesterday was a result of “Domeng” that was moving over the east Philippine sea, an ITCZand a “local thunderstorm.”

The tropical depression intensified from being a low pressure area off Mindanao.

In a bulletin issued 11 am yesterday, Pagsasa said the tropical depression was located 675 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar and moving north northwest at 14 kilometers per hour.

Domeng was packing maximum winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 60 km/h.

Pagasa has not placed any area under tropical cyclone warning signals, but Domeng brought moderate to heavy rains to northern Mindanao, Caraga and Davao regions in Mindanao, and to eastern and central Visayas.

Domeng, the 4th cyclone to hit the country this year, was not expected to make landfall.

But Mercado said Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental could still have cloudy skies and see some rain today, especially this afternoon or tonight even without Domeng because of the prevailing ITCZ and the local thunderstorm.

Domeng, she said, is forecast to moved towards Japan.

Pagasa earlier said the rains this week, including the tropical depression, signalled the onset of this year’s rainy season.

Mercado said they were just waiting for an official declaration of the rainy season by Pagasa officials in Manila. (with reports from mindanews)