Enteng to exit PAR on Sunday afternoon as monsoon rains affect Luzon, Visayas

Tropical Storm Enteng (international name: Jangmi) is on track to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Sunday afternoon as monsoon rains affect Luzon and Visayas, PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. severe weather bulletin.

The Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) will cause gusty conditions to be felt in the next 24 hours in Pangasinan, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, and Western Visaya, especially in coastal and mountainous areas.

The monsoon, which is also being enhanced by a low pressure area (LPA) west of Zambales aside from Enteng, will bring rains over Pangasinan, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Tarlac, and MIMAROPA and occasional rains over Metro Manila, Aklan, Antique, and the rest of Luzon.

PAGASA warned residents of possible floods and rain-induced landslides during times of heavy or prolonged rainfall.

A gale warning meanwhile was raised over the seaboards of Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, the western coast of Batangas, the western coast of Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island, and the western coast of Palawan including Calamian Islands. These areas will have waves reaching as high as 4 meters.

The seaboards of Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, and Isabela also have a gale warning, as wave heights may reach 3.4 meters.

PAGASA warned against sea travel over the above-mentioned areas due to rough to very rough coastal waters.

Meanwhile, in the rest of Luzon and the seaboards of Visayas, coastal waters will be moderate to rough, with waves as high as 2.8 meters. Small seacraft are advised to take precautions.

At 10 a.m., Enteng's center or eye was located at 540 km northeast of Basco, Batanes.

It has maximum sustained winds of up to 75 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 90 km/h.

Enteng is moving northward at 45 km/h toward the southern Ryukyu Islands in Japan.

The LPA, meanwhile, was located at 10 a.m. at 210 km west of Iba, Zambales.

PAGASA said this LPA is less likely to intensify into a tropical depression in the next 24 hours.

The next severe weather bulletin will be issued at 11 p.m. or earlier, while the public weather forecast will be released at 4 p.m.

The weather bureau advised the public and disaster risk reduction and management councils concerned to take the necessary precautions.

NDRRMC

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reminded the public and local government units to observe COVID-19 health measures in case of evacuation due to the effects of Enteng.

NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal said the council issued a regulation with adjustments on the emergency response due to COVID-19.

“Pinapaalala po natin sa local governments natin, although wala naman direktang epekto si Enteng ngayon at ang mga pag-uulan na nararamdaman natin ay buhat sa enhanced monsoon, ang paalala natin sa mga kababayan natin at sa LGUs na patuloy na protektahan ang sarili nila,” he said.

Timbal reiterated that wearing of face mask and observance of social distancing should be followed in the evacuation areas of affected residents.

Moreover, LGUs should already have a list of evacuation areas for emergency use, noting they must designate  centers that are not used as quarantine facility for COVID-19. —KG, GMA News