The northeast monsoon, locally known as Amihan, is weakening but continues to bring cool temperatures and occasional rains to parts of Luzon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported Tuesday.
La Trinidad, Benguet recorded a chilly 9.8°C, while nearby Baguio City registered 12.4°C. Other areas dipping below 20°C included Basco, Batanes (15.6°C), Malaybalay City, Bukidnon (17.0°C), Tanay, Rizal (17.0°C), Borongan City, Eastern Samar (18.4°C), Catbalogan City, Samar (19.0°C), Laoag City, Ilocos Norte (19.2°C), Baler, Aurora (19.5°C), Casiguran, Aurora (19.8°C), and San Jose, Occidental Mindoro (19.9°C).
PAGASA noted that Malaybalay, Borongan, and Catbalogan are no longer affected by Amihan.
Metro Manila remained slightly cool, with 20.7°C observed at the Science Garden station in Quezon City.
Light to moderate rains continue over eastern Cordillera, Cagayan Valley, Aurora, and northern Quezon, while Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will experience generally fair weather with occasional cloudiness and isolated light showers.
Visayas and Mindanao will be mostly sunny and dry, though scattered afternoon showers or thunderstorms are possible.
As Amihan weakens, warm and humid Easterlies are expected to gradually take over midweek, bringing higher temperatures and heat index values starting Friday.
PAGASA has not yet declared the end of the Amihan season, citing the continued presence of cold and dry northeasterly winds. Historically, the warm and dry season in the Philippines typically begins in the second half of March.