STATE forecasters over the weekend said that people in northern Luzon and Mindanao might experience scattered rains due to an inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and a cold front.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the ITCZ is affecting Mindanao, while a cold front is expected to bring rains across the Batanes group of islands.

“The province of South Cotabato and the regions of Caraga and Davao will be cloudy with occasional light to moderate rain showers or thunderstorms. The Batanes group of islands and the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Apayao and Cagayan including Calayan and the Babuyan group of islands will experience cloudy skies with light rain,” a Pagasa advisory stated.

On the other hand, it said that Metro Manila and the rest of the country would be partly cloudy with isolated brief rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon and eastern Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the northeast and east with slight to moderate seas.

Meanwhile, Pagasa said that strong to gale-force winds associated with the northeast monsoon may affect the northern and eastern seaboards of northern Luzon.

“Fishing boats and other small sea crafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” the agency said. 

WITH REPORTS FROM JING VILLAMENTE