Habagat to bring rainy weekend to parts of Luzon, Western Visayas

Parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila, and areas in Western Visayas are expected to experience rain through the weekend starting Friday, according to PAGASA.

PAGASA weather specialist John Manalo told Balitanghali on Thursday that the Southwest Monsoon, or Habagat, will affect the Ilocos Region, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, and parts of Western Visayas.

“Actually bukas magsisimula na po ang mas mataas na tsansa ng mga pag-ulan lalo na sa hapon dito sa Metro Manila at ilang lugar sa Western Visayas, kasama po dito 'yung Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras at kasama din po 'yung Negros Occidental,” Manalo said.

(Actually, starting tomorrow, there will be a higher chance of rain, especially in the afternoon, over Metro Manila and some parts of Western Visayas, including Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental.)

"Magiging maulan po 'yung ating darating na weekend dahil po sa moisture na dala-dala nitong hanging Habagat kaya po mataas 'yung tsansa ng mga pag-ulan," he added.

(The coming weekend will be rainy due to the moisture brought by the Southwest Monsoon, resulting in a high chance of rain.)

With the increased chance of rain, flooding is also possible in the affected areas, Manalo said.

The inclement weather is expected to persist through the weekend.

However, the rains are not expected to be as intense as the downpours experienced on August 17.

An LPA earlier entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and currently has a “medium chance” of intensifying into a tropical cyclone within the next 24 hours. If it develops into one, it will be named “Pilandok.”

PAGASA is also monitoring another LPA, but it remains far from the Philippines and is not expected to affect the country's weather.

Despite the rains in Luzon and parts of the Visayas, Mindanao is experiencing high heat indices. The hot weather is expected to continue due to the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, Manalo said. —Jean Mangaluz/VBL, GMA News