‘Maring’ slightly intensifies, to leave PH early Wednesday evening—Pagasa

MTSAT ENHANCED-IR Satellite Image 1 a.m., 21 August 2013

MANILA, Philippines—Tropical storm Maring (international name: Trami), which enhanced the southwest monsoon rains that caused the flooding of Metro Manila, may leave the Philippine area of responsibility as early as Wednesday evening, according to state forecasters.

As of 11 p.m. Tuesday, Maring slightly intensified as it moved northwest, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

The storm was last spotted 520 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 105 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 135 kph.

It also kept its speed of 19 kph.

Maring, which was originally forecast to exit by Thursday, was expected to be out of the Philippine area of responsibility, or 430 km north of Itbayat by Wednesday evening.

Until then, it will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon, which will bring moderate to heavy rains over Luzon particularly over the western section, Pagasa said.