By el Amigo
MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos planning weekend trips and outdoor activities are urged to keep their umbrellas handy as rain showers and thunderstorms are expected in several parts of the country on Saturday and Sunday, October 17 and 18.
PAGASA said the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) will bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over Mindanao on Saturday, while the easterlies will affect the Visayas, Bicol Region, MIMAROPA and Quezon.
The weather bureau said the rest of Luzon, including Metro Manila, may experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies, with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms. Batanes and the Babuyan Islands may also see isolated light rains.
On Sunday, the easterlies will continue to bring cloudy skies and scattered rains and thunderstorms over the Visayas, Bicol Region, MIMAROPA and Quezon. Other parts of the archipelago may experience isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, particularly during the afternoon and evening.
The unsettled conditions could disrupt travel, outdoor gatherings and other weekend activities, particularly in areas where thunderstorms develop.
Residents are advised to watch for sudden heavy downpours, strong gusts of wind and lightning. Localized flooding may occur in flood-prone communities, while landslides remain a concern in areas vulnerable to slope failure following prolonged or intense rainfall.
Motorists should exercise caution on wet roads, while those planning sea travel should check local advisories and conditions before departure.
PAGASA has emphasized the importance of monitoring official forecasts and weather advisories, as conditions may vary from one locality to another.
Meanwhile, the termination of the southwest monsoon earlier this month does not mean the country is already free from rain. The ITCZ, easterlies and other weather disturbances can still generate rainfall and thunderstorms.
The public is encouraged to remain vigilant and make weather conditions part of its weekend plans.
