Rains to welcome new year

MANILA, Philippines—Cloudy skies and light rains may well have put a damper on the New Year firecracker revelry.

Light intermittent showers blanketed Metro Manila from late morning to late afternoon Wednesday, just hours before the end of the last day of the year.

In a weather bulletin issued Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the rains were caused by a low pressure area that could develop into a tropical cyclone in the next few days.

According to the weather bulletin, which covers the period December 29, 2008 to January 2, 2009, the low-pressure area will affect Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. It will bring frequent rains to Northern Mindanao and the Eastern Visayas beginning Thursday, and onwards over the rest of Mindanao, the rest of Visayas, Southern Luzon and the eastern section of Central Luzon.

The rest of the country will continue to experience good weather, except for some “isolated passing rains,” Pagasa said.

“Our forecast is that the low pressure area will be around for the next few days,” Pagasa weather forecaster Nonoy About said.

The low-pressure area was spotted 190 kilometers southeast of Guian, Eastern Samar.

A low-pressure area is a region where the atmospheric pressure is lower than the surrounding area. As the air rises, it cools to form clouds and rain.

Temperatures in Metro Manila will range from 21 degrees to 30 degrees Celsius.

Moderate to strong northeasterly winds (amihan) will continue to blow over Luzon and the Visayas.