Dante maintains strength, Habagat to bring rains over NCR, nearby areas

Tropical Depression Dante maintains its strength as it moves northwestward over the Philippine Sea, PAGASA said in its Wednesday bulletin.

This, as the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat is forecast to continue bringing moderate to sometimes intense rains over Metro Manila and several provinces.

In its 5 a.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA said the center of Dante was estimated at 880 kilometers East of extreme Northern Luzon, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 70 kph.

It is moving Northwestward at 25 kph.

Dante may reach the tropical storm category within the next 12 hours. Further intensification into a severe tropical storm remains less likely but is not ruled out, PAGASA said.

The tropical depression is seen to enhance Habagat, which is dumping rains over parts of Luzon in the last few days.

Habagat will bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Metro Manila, Benguet, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Occidental Mindoro.

It is also forecast to bring occasional rains over the rest of MIMAROPA, La Union, Nueva Ecija, Quezon, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental.

The rest of Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Batanes, Cagayan, and Isabela will have cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms due to the low pressure area.

The rest of Luzon and Visayas will have cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms brought about by Habagat, which will also affect parts of Mindanao.

Sunset is at 6:28 p.m. —LDF, GMA Integrated News