BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Several barangays here were inundated following heavy rains brought by a combination of shear line and low pressure area between late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.
Among the areas affected were barangays Taculing, Singcang-Airport, Mandalagan, 10, and 39, according to the Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.
The overflow in Barangay Vista Alegre was also damaged due to flooding.
Floodwaters entered the Commission on Elections office on San Juan Street. Some papers and a biometrics capturing equipment got soaked.
Light flooding was also reported in Barangay Villamonte, although the water in the affected areas eventually receded before daylight.
The floods were also attributed to yesterday’s high tide at 3:04 a.m.
In a separate information provided by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the heavy rains experienced in the city lasted between one to three hours.
The state weather bureau recently said La Niña, a weather phenomenon characterized by cold ocean temperature that causes tropical storms, may persist until May.
PAGASA administrator Vicente Malano said there is a 60 percent chance that La Niña will continue through March-April-May season before the weather returns to neutral conditions.
“La Niña increases the likelihood of having above normal rainfall conditions in some areas of the country,” he said.
“The weather systems that affected the country during this period were the northeast monsoon, localized thunderstorms, low pressure areas and tail end of the frontal system (shear line),” the PAGASA chief added./PN
