Cloudy with a chance of rains this week

MASSIVE clouds that have been formed near the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) can bring rains in the next few days, providing relief to the parched lands in Cebu.

“Pray it won’t dissipate,” said Alfredo Quiblat Jr., chief of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophyiscal and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) Mactan.

Massive clouds will dissipate if there’s a low sea surface temperature in the Pacific Ocean , he said.

Quiblat said there’s a 50 percent chance that these clouds would develop into a low pressure area (LPA), or even a typhoon.

“Yes, this can help our water system that has already dried up,” Quiblat said.

Pagasa’s forecast for April is zero to one typhoon. As of yesterday, Pagasa recorded zero rainfall, Quiblat said.

The average amount of rainfall for April is 50 millimeters, he added.

The Jaclupan weir or small dam, Buhisan Dam and some rivers have dried up, causing a 20,000-cubic-meter deficit in water supply for Metro Cebu and prompting the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) to sound the alarm and urge the public to store water.

The utility listed 44 areas in Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu cities which are suffering from low-pressure to no water supply during the daytime.

Charmaine Rodriguez-Kara, MCWD public affairs manager, said only rains can help their surface and ground water sources to recover.

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