Pagasa warns of heavy rain across Cebu Friday

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Moderate to heavy rain showers accompanied by lightning and strong winds drenched parts of Cebu before noon Friday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned Cebu residents of possible flash floods, localized flooding, and rain-triggered landslides.

In Thunderstorm Advisory No. 5 issued at 11:39 a.m., Pagasa-Visayas reported that thunderstorm cells had already developed over several areas in Cebu and continued moving toward nearby local government units.

READ: Inday further weakens, habagat to drench parts of PH

Among the areas already experiencing thunderstorms were Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Talisay City, Toledo City, Naga City, Balamban, Consolacion, Cordova, Minglanilla, Daanbantayan, and Medellin.

Pagasa said the thunderstorms could spread within the next few hours to Pinamungajan, San Fernando, Carcar City, Aloguinsan, Barili, Liloan, Compostela, Danao City, Asturias, Bogo City, and San Remigio.

Neighboring provinces also faced unstable weather, with thunderstorms already affecting several towns in Bohol and threatening parts of Negros Occidental.

Flash floods, landslides in Cebu possible

Pagasa warned that the thunderstorms could bring moderate to heavy rain, frequent lightning, and strong, gusty winds, increasing the risk of

flash floods in low-lying communities;

localized flooding;

reduced visibility; and

minor landslides in mountainous and landslide-prone areas.

The weather bureau urged residents in affected and nearby areas to monitor official advisories and take precautions, especially those living in flood- and landslide-prone communities.

Southwest monsoon continues to affect Cebu

The thunderstorms formed as the southwest monsoon (habagat) continued to enhance rainfall across much of the country.

Pagasa’s regional forecast said Metro Cebu and the rest of Cebu province would continue to experience cloudy skies with rain showers and thunderstorms throughout Friday, accompanied by moderate-to-strong southwest winds and moderate-to-rough coastal waters.

Temperatures across the province will range from 26 to 31 degrees Celsius.

For the weekend, forecasters expect partly cloudy to cloudy skies with intermittent rain showers and thunderstorms, while moderate-to-strong southwest winds and moderate-to-rough seas will persist.

Weather conditions may gradually improve by Monday and Tuesday as winds weaken to light to moderate, although isolated rain showers and thunderstorms may still occur.

READ: Cebu under dry spell, not drought, with rains seen in July — Pagasa

Not under heavy rainfall advisory

Despite the localized thunderstorms, Cebu did not fall under Pagasa’s Weather Advisory No. 16 issued at 11 a.m. Friday, which identified provinces expected to receive widespread heavy rainfall from the southwest monsoon through Saturday.

Instead, the advisory placed Antique under a heavy to intense rainfall outlook of 100 to 200 millimeters, while Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental joined several other provinces expected to receive 50 to 100 millimeters of rainfall.

READ: 919 barangays in Western Visayas face flood, landslide risks

The advisory also noted that Tropical Cyclone Inday continued to enhance the southwest monsoon but limited its direct heavy rainfall forecast to Batanes, where 50 to 100 millimeters of rain could fall through Saturday noon.

Pagasa reminded the public that a Weather Advisory provides a broader 24-hour provincial rainfall outlook, while a Thunderstorm Advisory offers short-term, municipality-level warnings based on real-time weather monitoring. Residents should closely monitor the latter for rapidly developing thunderstorms that may trigger flooding and other weather-related hazards.

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