‘Jenny’ Maintains Strength; Enhanced ‘Habagat’ to Bring Rains in Visayas, Mindanao

(PNA) — Severe Tropical Storm “Jenny” continues to enhance the southwest monsoon as it maintained its strength and continues to move slowly in west northwest direction, according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Friday.

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Samuel Duran said as of 4 a.m. Friday the center of severe Tropical Storm Jenny was spotted some at 1,120 km east of Calayan Island, Cagayan (19.1N, 132.1E) packed with maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 120 kph. It is forecast to move west northwest at 7 kph.

He said no public storm warning signal raised in any part of the country and Jenny is not likely to make landfall in any part of the country.

However, he noted the tropical storm will enhance the southwest monsoon now affecting Visayas and Mindanao.

He added by weekend expect rains in most parts of Luzon including Metro Manila due to southwest monsoon enhanced by the tropical storm while expect gradual weather improvement in Mindanao in the coming days.

If Jenny maintains its speed and movement, Duran said the tropical storm is forecast to exit by Monday towards Taiwan.

He said the slow movement of the tropical storm is due to the presence of high pressure area.

Jenny is forecast to intensify into typhoon category in the next 24 hours.

For Friday forecast, cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced over Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region and Caraga.

It added fair weather or partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms will prevail over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.

Duran said the state-run weather bureau also issued a gale warning due to the effects of southwest monsoon enhanced by the tropical storm as the sea condition will be rough to very rough due to strong to gale force winds which is expected to affect the eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

“Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” it warned. (PNA) JBP/CLTC