The state weather bureau, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), announced on Wednesday the termination of the northeast monsoon, following the observed change in the wind direction.

In a statement, PAGASA Administrator Nathaniel Servando said that the agency announced the conclusion of the northeast monsoon following the existence of the high-pressure area that changes the wind direction from northeasterly to easterly movement.

“With this development, the day-to-day weather across the country will gradually become warmer, though isolated thunderstorms are also likely to occur,” Servando said, noting that there is still a possibility of occasional effects of the northeasterly winds in Northern Luzon.

The northeast monsoon is the predominant weather system that occurs in the Philippines from October to March, which brings cold weather with isolated rains in the eastern seaboards of Luzon.

A heat index of 43°C or higher is forecast in the areas of San Ildefonso in Bulacan and Dagupan, Pangasinan, on Thursday.

With the expected more humid temperatures in most parts of the country, PAGASA advises the public to take precautionary measures to minimize heat stress and to boost water intake for “personal and domestic consumption.”

LPA spotted offshore

A low-pressure area was spotted at 315 kilometers east of Tagum City, however, the weather bureau said that it is unlikely to intensify into a tropical depression.

The said low-pressure is forecasted to track Caraga-Eastern Visayas and Southern Luzon within the forecast period, while for next week, another tropical cyclone-like vortex is expected to form.

Metro Manila and the other parts of the country is expected to experience cloudy skies and isolated thunderstorms due to the easterlies.