CEBU may experience a break from the hot weather as light to moderate rains are expected in the province until Wednesday this week due to the amihan or northeast monsoon winds.

Alfredo Quiblat Jr., chief of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services (Pagasa) Mactan office said the rains “will be intermittent.”

“It’s better to stay indoors,” he said in a phone interview.

Quiblat reminded the public especially those attending the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) or those leaving their homes to bring umbrellas and raincoats.

He said the temperature in Cebu will be 24 to 30 degrees Celsius.

Quiblat also reminded the public that a gale warning was issued yesterday along the portions of Eastern Visayas seas.

Quiblat said wind speed will range from 50 to 60 kilometers per hour while waves will be 3.4 to 4.5 meters high.

Commodore Enrico Evangelista, commander of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Central Visayas station, said sea travel going to Eastern Visayas were canceled yesterday.

In Cebu City, two passenger vessels with 30 passengers bound to Ormoc were barred from traveling along with four vessels at Port of Tangil (Dumanjug) bound for Guihulngan, Negros Oriental that had 50 passengers.

In Port of Bato (Samboan), two vessels, two fastcraft, and one motorbanca were not allowed to sail going to Sibulan, Negros Oriental.

In Hagnaya Port in San Remegio town eight rolling cargoes and two passenger vessels with 78 passengers bound to Sta. Fe, Bantayan were barred from travel.

Commander Agapito Bibat, Philippine Coast Guard-Cebu station chief, said vessels below 250 gross tons were not allowed to sail due to gale warning.

He said about 269 people were stranded due to the suspension of trips for small vessels with 250 gross tonnage.