MANILA, Philippines – The intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), the trough or extension of a low pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), and the shear line are all bringing rain to parts of the country on Thursday, November 17.

In an advisory issued at 11 am on Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the ITCZ and the trough of the LPA combined are affecting these areas:

Moderate to heavy rain

• Eastern Visayas
• Caraga
• Davao Region

Light to moderate rain, with at times heavy rain

• rest of Mindanao
• Palawan

The shear line is also affecting the following provinces in Luzon:

Light to moderate rain, with at times heavy rain

• Cagayan
• Isabela
• northern part of Aurora

PAGASA warned that floods and landslides are likely.

The LPA outside PAR is located southeast of General Santos City. It had formed inside PAR, embedded along the ITCZ, on Wednesday, November 16, then left early Thursday.

The ITCZ is a belt near the equator where the trade winds of the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere meet.

The shear line, meanwhile, is the point where warm air and cold air converge.

The Philippines has yet to have a tropical cyclone in November. PAGASA earlier said there may be two or three tropical cyclones during the month. – Rappler.com