Monsoon enhanced by 'Karen' may bring rain in next 24 hrs

Annular typhoon Karen (Sanba) may trigger monsoon rain over Metro Manila and parts of the country in the next 24 hours, a state weather forecaster said Friday afternoon. PAGASA forecaster Fernando Cada said Karen maintained its strength as it continued to move toward Southern Japan. "Nasa karagatan pa rin ito, patuloy [na] tinatahak ang East Philippine Sea papuntang Southern Japan. Ang kanyang galaw pa-north, hindi na siya magla-landfall," Cada said in an interview on dzBB radio. When asked about the possibility of Karen changing course and heading for the Philippines, he said, "Malabo na." He also said with Karen enhancing the southwest monsoon, areas like Metro Manila may experience intense rain. Earlier, PAGASA forecaster Elvie Enriquez said Karen can be considered a super-typhoon after its winds reached 185 kph. The Japan Meteorological Agency's 2:45 p.m. update described Karen as "large" and "violent." PAGASA's 5 p.m. bulletin said Karen was estimated at 770 km northeast of Aparri, Cagayan as of 4 p.m., with maximum sustained winds of 185 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 220 kph. Karen is forecast to move north at 15 kph. "Metro Manila will be cloudy with occasional moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest and Manila Bay will be moderate to rough," it added. Occasional moderate to heavy rain will be experienced in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Bicol, which may trigger flash floods and landslides. Visayas and Northern Luzon, meanwhile, will be cloudy with scattered light to moderate rain while Mindanao will have partly cloudy skies with isolated rains or thunderstorms in the evening. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast to northwest will prevail over Northern Luzon and coming from the southwest over the rest of the country. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough. — KBK, GMA News