Ferdie seen to intensify into tropical storm as it exits PAR, bring monsoon rains over Luzon

State weather bureau PAGASA on Monday said Tropical Depression Ferdie may intensify into a tropical storm and bring monsoon rains over parts of Luzon.

In an 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Ferdie exited the northwestern boundary of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at 9 a.m. on Monday.

“Ferdie is likely to reach tropical storm category today and weaken into a low pressure area tomorrow evening after landfall,” it added.

Due to Ferdie and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon, PAGASA said monsoon rains are expected over the Ilocos Region, Abra, Benguet, Zambales, and Bataan.

Meanwhile, occasional rains will be experienced in Batanes, Cagayan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and the rest of Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Central Luzon.

These weather conditions will bring strong breeze-force to near gale-force winds over Ilocos Region, CAR, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, and MIMAROPA.

“Gusty conditions are more likely in coastal and mountainous regions of these areas,” PAGASA said.

The weather bureau warned of flooding and rain-induced landslide in areas with heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards.

PAGASA advised the public and local disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned to monitor updates about the weather and take appropriate measures.

Gale Warning is in effect over the seaboards of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, western coast of Batangas, western coast of Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island, Calamian Islands, Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, and Isabela (2.5 to 4.5 m).

“Sea travel is risky over these areas due to rough to very rough seas,” PAGASA warned.

“Those with small seacrafts are advised to take precautionary measures while venturing out over the seaboards of Visayas and the rest of Luzon due to moderate to rough seas (1.2 to 2.8 m),” it added.

At 10:00 a.m. on Monday, Ferdie was located at 265 kilometers West Northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte with maximum sustained winds of 55 km per hour and gustiness of up to 70 km/h moving Northward at 15 km/h.

Aside from Ferdie, PAGASA is also monitoring Tropical Storm Jangmi at 1,510 km North Northeast of Extreme Northern Luzon and a tropical depression at 2,515 km East Northeast of Extreme Northern Luzon outside the PAR. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News