As the Philippines edges closer to the rainy season, brace yourself for more frequent localized thunderstorms, especially in the afternoons and evenings. This weather shift marks the country’s transition from dry to wet, bringing dramatic skies and sudden downpours.
On May 4, PAGASA announced that these thunderstorms will become a common afternoon-to-evening occurrence from late May into early June. Expect flashes of lightning and booming thunder, lasting up to an hour, signaling nature’s powerful daily transformation.
What triggers these storms? The heat and moisture build up throughout the day, encouraging the formation of towering cumulonimbus clouds by late afternoon. These clouds unleash the much-anticipated thunderstorms that light up the skies over many regions.
Meanwhile, a low pressure area (LPA) lurking 310 kilometers northwest of Dipolog City continues to stir scattered rains and thunderstorms across Visayas, Mimaropa, Bicol, Batangas, and Quezon. Though this LPA shows only a slight chance of evolving into a tropical cyclone, its heavy rains carry the real threat—flash floods and landslides remain a grave concern.
Adding to the complex weather picture, warm easterly winds from the Pacific keep other areas relatively hotter, with partly cloudy to cloudy skies dominating. Yet, isolated rain showers pop up here and there as localized thunderstorms play their unpredictable game.
PAGASA urges everyone to stay vigilant. Sudden flash floods and landslides can strike without warning, especially in vulnerable areas. Keep tuned to weather updates and be prepared as the skies shift from calm to fierce in the coming weeks.
