Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - Though weakened, the southwest monsoon, locally known as hanging habagat, will continue to bring rainshowers and thunderstorms over Northern Luzon and Central Luzon, posing the threat of flash floods and landslides as people in the two regions, and those in the capital, struggle to restore normality to their lives after this week's floods.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Friday said provinces in the two regions, particularly Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Pampanga, Bataan, Tarlac and Bulacan, will continue to experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The weather will become cloudy with widespread rains in the western part of the region, the state weather service said.
Pagasa warned residents of those provinces about flash floods in low-lying areas and landslides in mountainous areas.
Low pressure area
Weather forecaster Raymond Ordinario reported that a low pressure area (LPA) had been seen east of the country, still very far but moving toward the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).
"We expect it to form and enter the PAR by Monday or Tuesday," Ordinario said. "But we only expect it to pass through the PAR so we do not think it would affect any part of the country."
Cloudy skies
The skies in the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms, Pagasa said.
Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over Luzon and coastal waters will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the south to southwest with slight to moderate seas.
Strong to gale force wind is anticipated to affect the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon and the western seaboard of Central Luzon.
Very rough seas
The seas off the western seaboards of Northern Luzon and Central Luzon, particularly Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales and Bataan, as well as the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon in Cagayan are expected to be rough to very rough, Pagasa said.
Pagasa advised fishermen and operators of small seacraft not to venture out to sea. Larger vessels must watch out for big waves.
With a report from Amy R. Remo
