Update: Typhoon “Luis” Exits PHL

Manila (PNA) -– Typhoon “Luis” has maintained its strength but now already outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) as of Monday morning, the state weather bureau said.

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Meno Mendoza told Philippines News Agency (PNA) that the eye of Typhoon Luis is already outside the PAR as of 11 a.m., located 372 km west of Laoag city (18.6N, 117.1E) packed with maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

He added typhoon Luis continues to move west northwest at 30 kph.

He added that typhoon Luis has a very slim chance to recurve or return to the country as it will continue to move towards Vietnam or Southern China.

He added all public storm warnings have been lowered.

However, Mendoza said that though the eye of Typhoon “Luis” is outside the PAR, the outer spiral of the typhoon is still affecting Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra and Pangasinan as these areas is still under public storm warning signal no. 1 (winds of 30-60 kph is expected in at least 36 hours).

”Residents in low lying and mountainous areas under signal #1 are alerted against possible flash floods and landslides,” PAGASA warned.

It added the estimated rainfall amount is from 8 to 20 mm per hour (heavy – intense) within the 600-km diameter of the typhoon.

Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out over the seaboards of Luzon and over the western and central seaboards of Visayas.

Mendoza said the rest of Luzon including Metro Manila will have monsoon rains with moderate to strong southwesterly surface windflow due to the southwest monsoon.

Meanwhile, Mendoza said the agency is tracking another low pressure area (LPA) still outside PAR located east of Mindanao which has high chance to enter the country in the coming days. (PNA) LAM/CLTC