MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines may not experience any more storms for the rest of 2024, according to the country’s weather agency, Pagasa.
Nathaniel Servando, the administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), shared this update in an interview on Saturday. He explained that there are no signs of any new storms forming, either inside or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), for the remainder of the year.
“Querubin” Weakens Quickly
The storm that recently affected the country, Tropical Depression Querubin, may be the last of the year. Querubin was the 17th tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines in 2024, and it was the first storm of December. Although it brought heavy rain to some areas, its overall impact was not as severe. Querubin weakened very quickly into a remnant low-pressure area (LPA) after just 24 hours, causing less damage than expected.
Servando mentioned that the chances of another storm forming are very low, but it’s still possible for an LPA to develop, which could bring rain without becoming a full-fledged storm.
Weather Systems Affecting the Philippines
Even though no major storms are expected, there are still a few weather systems affecting different parts of the Philippines:
- Trough of LPA (formerly Querubin): The leftover part of Querubin is still bringing rain and thunderstorms to areas in Mindanao, including Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. These areas can expect scattered rains and thunderstorms.
- Shearline: This happens when hot and cold air meet, and it is causing scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms over several regions, including:
- Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon)
- Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan)
- Bicol Region
- Visayas
- Dinagat Islands
- Northeast Monsoon (Amihan): The Amihan is bringing cooler weather, partly cloudy skies, and isolated rain showers to Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.
What’s Next for the Weather?
Despite these systems, the chance of another storm in the near future is slim. Pagasa’s forecasters say that the weather for the rest of December should be relatively calm, with only a few showers and thunderstorms expected in certain areas.
In conclusion, while the Philippines still has a few weather disturbances to deal with, Querubin is likely the last major storm of 2024, and the country can expect a quieter end to the year weather-wise.