The southwest monsoon is projected to gain strength late next week due to a potential low-pressure area or tropical cyclone developing east of Luzon, according to a Friday weather outlook from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Currently, the monsoon has temporarily subsided, bringing mostly fair weather across the archipelago.
For Saturday and Sunday, July 18 and 19, the weakened southwest monsoon will generate overcast skies alongside scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Bataan, Zambales, and the Ilocos Region. The rest of the nation can anticipate generally pleasant weather, though isolated downpours and thunderstorms are still possible.
From Monday to Wednesday, July 20 to 22, PAGASA expects the monsoon’s effects to migrate toward the western sections of Southern Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.
Scattered rains and thunderstorms are forecast for Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Western Visayas, the Negros Island Region, the Zamboanga Peninsula, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Other regions will face partly cloudy to cloudy skies with only localized disruptions.
By Thursday and Friday, July 23 and 24, the potential development of a weather disturbance east of Luzon is expected to re-energize the southwest monsoon.
If this system materializes, it will bring scattered precipitation and thunderstorms to Palawan, Masbate, Sorsogon, and the majority of the Visayas and Mindanao.
Meanwhile, the rest of Luzon will experience partly cloudy skies with occasional isolated rains.