Luzon, Visayas stays wet as 'habagat' persists

MANILA – The southwest monsoon or “habagat” will continue to affect Luzon and the Visayas, bringing occasional to scattered rains and thunderstorms over several areas, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Sunday.

In its 4 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said occasional rains are expected over Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas and Occidental Mindoro.

Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Western Visayas, the rest of Mimaropa, Rizal, Laguna and Antique will experience cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms also caused by the southwest monsoon.

PAGASA warned that flash floods or landslides may occur due to moderate to heavy rains.

The rest of Luzon and the Visayas will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Mindanao will likewise experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to localized thunderstorms.

Meanwhile, PAGASA said Tropical Storm Krovanh (formerly Pilandok) was located 875 km. northeast of extreme northern Luzon and was moving east southeastward at 10 km. per hour (kph).

It has maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

PAGASA also forecast moderate to strong winds over extreme northern Luzon, coming from the southwest to west, with coastal waters expected to be moderate to rough at 1.5 to 3.4 meters.

The rest of Luzon will experience light to moderate winds from the southwest, with slight to moderate coastal waters ranging from 0.6 to 2.5 meters.

The rest of the country will have light to moderate winds from the south to southwest, while coastal waters are expected to be slight to moderate, ranging from 0.6 to 2.1 meters. (PNA)