PAGASA: Enhanced Habagat to drench Luzon, Visayas

Typhoon Inday may have left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), but its lingering effects continue to enhance the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat), which will bring widespread rains over Luzon and the Visayas in the next 24 hours, the state weather bureau said on Sunday.

In its 4 a.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the Southwest Monsoon remains the dominant weather system affecting northern and central Philippines, just after Inday battered parts of the country with strong winds and heavy rains, leaving flooding and damage in several areas.

PAGASA warned that residents in Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro should expect occasional rains, with moderate to heavy downpours that could trigger flash floods and landslides, particularly in low-lying and mountainous areas.

Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, and the Visayas will have cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms due to the Southwest Monsoon. The weather bureau said moderate to, at times, heavy rainfall may also cause flash floods and landslides.

In Mindanao, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms are expected due to localized weather systems. While much of the island will see generally fair weather, PAGASA said severe thunderstorms could still trigger localized flash floods or landslides.

The enhanced monsoon is also expected to generate rough seas in several coastal waters.

In extreme Northern Luzon, strong southwest winds will produce rough seas with wave heights of 2.8 to 4 meters.

Across the Visayas and the rest of Luzon, moderate to strong southwest winds will bring moderate to rough seas, with waves ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 meters.

Meanwhile, Mindanao will experience moderate southeast to south winds, resulting in moderate seas with wave heights of 1.2 to 2.1 meters.

PAGASA advised small seacraft operators to take precautionary measures and urged inexperienced mariners to avoid venturing out to sea, especially in areas experiencing rough conditions.

Saturday's highest temperature at the PAGASA Science Garden in Quezon City reached 29.7 degrees Celsius at 2 p.m., while the lowest was 25.6 degrees Celsius at 6:30 a.m.

Sunrise will be at 5:34 a.m., while sunset is expected at 6:30 p.m. — MCG, GMA News