Pagasa sees heavy rains due to trough

By NITZ ARANCON,
Correspondent

THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) yesterday warned of possible flash floods and landslides this weekend due to “severe thunderstorms” similar to Thursday afternoon’s heavy downpour in Cagayan de Oro.

The warning came even as the trough of the powerful typhoon Hagibis started affecting northern Mindanao, Caraga and Davao regions. Pagasa said the heavy downpour that flooded some parts of the city on Thursday afternoon was spawned by the trough of Hagibis.

Hagibis did not enter Philippine territory as it tracked towards Japan, but Luz Mercado, a Pagasa senior weather specialist in  El Salvador City, said its thick cloud band was huge that Mindanao areas could see heavy downpours this weekend.

Mercado said Pagasa’s forecast is that some areas in Mindanao would have light to heavy rains within the next 36 hours.

“Ikogkinisaiyangcloud formation. Ma-o nang maka sinati kita din hisa ato   light to heavy rain showers,” she said.

Aside from Northern Mindanao, Caraga and Davao regions, scattered rain showers and thunderstorms are also expected in the Zamboanga Peninsula and Visayas.

As of 11 am yesterday, the center of Hagibis was some 1,800 kilometers northeast of Northern Luzon, and the powerful typhoon was moving towards Tokyo.