Several major waterways and their tributaries in Western Visayas may rise and even overflow due to shear line’s rain, raising the possibility for flash floods.
 
Major Western Visayan waterways likely to be affected are Capiz province’s Panay, Mambusao, Panay Malinao, Alingon and Balantian; Iloilo province’s Pinantan, Barotac, Akalaygan, Jalaud, Jalano, Jagdong, Jalaur, Lamunan, Jaro-Aganan, Sibalom and Guimbal and Aklan province’s Ibajay, Aklan and Jalo, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Monday, Dec. 14.
 
“There’s risk for those waterways and their tributaries to overflow since shear line may bring to Western Visayas strong rainfall of short duration,” PAGASA hydrologist Rosalie Pagulayan said.
 
Such rainfall can raise the waterways water to overflowing levels, she said.
 
Flash floods are possible due to the overflowing water, she added.
 
Pagulayan advised communities concerned to regularly monitor PAGASA’s weather forecasts and advisories to better prepare for such a possibility.
 
PAGASA also continues to warn about possible overflow of several waterways and flooding in Eastern Visayas and Bicol regions due to shear lines.
 
In its daily forecast on Monday, PAGASA said shear line may bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Aklan and Capiz provinces, Eastern Visayas, Bicol, Dinagat and Surigao provinces, Quezon province, as well as Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque and Romblon provinces.
 
Flooding or landslides are possible during moderate to at times heavy rain, PAGASA said.
 
Shear line drenched parts of Eastern Visayas last week while Western Visayas experienced light rain.
 
“People must be aware that shear line can have episodes of strong rainfall that may last for three or six hours only,” Pagulayan said.
 
She said rainfall of short duration may considerably raise Western Visayan waterways water level.PNA