Tropical Storm Mekkhala trough to bring rains to parts of Visayas, Mindanao

Parts of the Visayas and Mindanao will experience scattered rains and thunderstorms due to the trough of Tropical Storm Mekkhala, the state weather bureau PAGASA said in its early Saturday morning forecast.

These weather conditions are expected over Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Norte.

Moving west northwestward at 25 km/h, Mekkhala was located 1,665 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon as of 3 a.m. It has maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 90 km/h.

The tropical cyclone will be given the local name Francisco once it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), which is expected between Saturday evening and Sunday morning.

"A landfall scenario is less likely at this time," PAGASA said in its 11 p.m. advisory on Friday.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and the Bicol Region will see partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the easterlies.

The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms caused by localized thunderstorms.

Winds across the country will be light to moderate, while coastal waters will be slight to moderate.

Sunrise in Metro Manila was at 5:28 a.m., while sunset will take place at 6:27 p.m.— VBL, GMA News