Cebuanos told to stay home due to bad weather

THE Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) called on Cebuanos on Wednesday, June 22, to be on alert and stay home due to bad weather.

Wilson Ramos, interim officer of PDRRMO, said Wednesday, June 22, that flooding has been reported in some areas in the province due to heavy rains.

He also clarified that the weather phenomenon spotted off Argao town in southern Cebu on Tuesday, June 21, was not a tornado, but only a waterspout.

He reminded fishermen in the area to be vigilant due to bad weather.

"Sa LGUs, naay reported nga kusog ang hangin, kusog uwan ilabi na sa south but we are still verifying if sa atong local counterparts regarding sa katong ingon nga tornado dapit sa Argao. That's not tornado, that's just waterspouts kay naa man sa dagat ug walay possibility nga moabot nga mo landfall na. Pero kinahanglan lang gyud ang safety sa mananagat kay delikado pod og mo duol-duol ka didto," he said.

He said Cebuanos should expect heavy rains, thus he reminded them to avoid areas near transmitter sites and electric posts to prevent accidents.

"Moderate to heavy rainshowers due to thunderstorms, unya expected gyud diri sa atoa sa Cebu...Ang ato lang nga paglikay sa thunderstorm ug lightning ang katong dili sad ta anha kanang mga lugar nga duol sa transmitter, mga poste, mas maayo anha sulod sa balay," Ramos said

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in Mactan said Wednesday that the heavy rainfall experienced in Cebu Wednesday was partly due to the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), which is affecting most parts of the country.

Pagasa Visayas weather specialist Jhomer Eclarino said the ITCZ causes the formation of thunderstorms, which in turn causes lightning, heavy rains and strong winds.

In severe cases, Eclarino said thunderstorms may cause waterspouts, tornado or hail storm.

The Pagasa also reported Wednesday a low pressure area that was spotted at 170 kilometers east of Borongan City in Eastern Samar.

This weather condition will cause heavy cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms in Eastern and Central Visayas, Palawan, including the Kalayaan Islands, and Occidental Mindoro, said the weather bureau. (ANV/LMY)