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Emong now a tropical storm; more heavy rains expected until Sunday


Tropical Cyclone Emong (international codename Leepi) intensified into a tropical storm before noon Tuesday but has started moving north and away from the Philippines, state weather forecasters said.
 
PAGASA forecaster Alvin Pura said Tropical Storm Emong has little chance of making landfall on the Philippines, but added the country may not expect any improvement in the weather until at least Sunday.
 
"Si Emong bahagyang lumakas, ito ay isang tropical storm. Maliit ang chance nito mag-landfall, ito kumikilos palabas ng Philippine area of responsibility," Pura said in an interview on dzBB radio.
 
He said their projections still indicate Emong may leave the Philippine area of responsibility by Thursday at the earliest.
 
Pura said that while Emong will have no direct effect on the country, it will enhance the southwest monsoon that brings rain over several parts of the Philippines.
 
Heavy rain in next 3 days
 
Pura said rain may be heavy in parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila, in the next three days.
 
"In the next three days, magiging mas maulan ang hilagang bahagi ng bansa kasama Metro Manila. Sa hapon may thunderstorm. Pero sa Sunday or Monday, gradual improvement ang ating panahon," he said.
 
Emong accelerates
 
In its 11 a.m. advisory, PAGASA said Emong has also accelerated in a northerly direction.
 
PAGASA said Emong was estimated at 460 km east of Isabela, Cagayan as of 10 a.m., with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up 80 kph.
 
Emong was moving north at 19 kph and is forecast to be 470 km east of Basco, Batanes Wednesday morning, and 830 km northeast of Basco, Batanes and out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility Thursday morning.
 
While no public stomrm warning signals have been raised, PAGASA said Emong may bring rainfall of 5 to 15 mm per hour (moderate to heavy) within its 400-km diameter.
 
PAGASA also said that while Tropical Storm Emong is far to directly affect any part of the country, it will enhance the southwest monsoon, "which will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms over Southern Luzon, Visayas and Northern Mindanao."
 
It warned fishermen, especially those using small seacraft, not to venture out into the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon and western seaboards of Southern Luzon due to big waves generated by Tropical Storm Emong. — TJD, GMA News
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