PAGASA: ‘Habagat’ to Bring Rains Until Weekend

Rains due to the southwest monsoon will continue to shower most parts of the country including Metro Manila until weekend, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Friday.

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Denison Estareja said the southwest monsoon or “hangin habagat” continues to affect Luzon and western Visayas.

Two weather disturbances spotted outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) are also being monitored, he said.

Estareja said tropical storm with international name Conson has a slim chance of entering the country as it is now headed towards Japan.

Meanwhile, the low pressure area (LPA) spotted some 1,700 km east of Casiguran, Aurora is not expected to enter PAR but will enhance the habagat.

For Friday forecast, PAGASA said monsoon rains will be experienced over the provinces of Zambales, Bataan, Pangasinan, Mindoro, Palawan, Cavite and Batangas.

Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms will prevail over the regions of Ilocos and Cordillera, provinces of Batanes, Babuyan and Calayan Group of Island and western Visayas.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms is expected over Metro Manila and the rest of the country.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail throughout the archipelago and the coastal waters will be moderate to rough.

The state weather bureau also issued a gale warning as strong to gale force winds affect the western seaboards of southern Luzon. Sea condition will be rough to very rough, it said.

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