Weather: Despite 'Ineng' exit, gale warning still up over Luzon

Despite the exit of Typhoon Ineng (international code name Ma-on)" from Philippine territory late Sunday, state weather forecasters maintained on Monday a gale warning over parts of Luzon. Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration forecaster Elvie Enriquez said "Ineng" had managed to enhance the southwest monsoon while in Philippine territory. "Naging epekto indirectly, nakahikayat siya ng southwest monsoon at nagdulot ng pag-ulan sa kanlurang bahagi ng Visayas at Luzon. At nagpapalabas pa rin tayo ng gale warning, Ito sa seaboard ng Northern Luzon at eastern seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon," Enriquez said in an interview on dzBB radio. (Indirectly, 'Ineng' managed to enhance the southwest monsoon to bring rains to the western parts of Visayas and Luzon. And today we still maintain the gale warning over the seaboard of Northern Luzon and eastern seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon.) She advised fishermen and small seacraft should not venture out to sea, and larger seacraft to watch out for big waves. Earlier, PAGASA said Typhoon Ineng (Ma-on) exited the Philippine area of responsibility as of 5 p.m. Sunday. "Namomoroblema ang isla sa Southern Japan, ito ang tinutungo ng malakas na bagyong si 'Ineng' ('Ineng' is now heading for Southern Japan. That is where it is now headed)," Enriquez said. She added Ineng would have been a problem for the Philippines had it come closer to Philippine territory. As of 10:15 p.m. Sunday, PAGASA said Ineng packed maximum winds of 195 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph and was moving northwest at 20 kph. It was forecast to be 1,190 km northeast of Basco, Batanes or at 480 km east northeast of Okinawa, Japan Monday morning. Afternoon, evening downpour Meanwhile, PAGASA's 5 a.m. bulletin indicated moderate to strong southwesterly windflow prevailing over Central and Northern Luzon. "The whole country will experience partly cloudy to at times cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening," it said. It added that moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over Northern and Central Luzon and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the Southwest with slight to moderate seas, PAGASA said. — RSJ, GMA News