‘Dodong’ to enhance habagat – Pagasa

‘Dodong’ may not affect the country directly but it will enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat, thus, rain and thunderstorms can be expected over western parts of Luzon and Visayas. Satellite image from Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression Dodong may not directly affect the country but it will enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat, the state weather agency said late Tuesday afternoon.

“Wala pong direktang epekto sa ating panahon si Dodong pero makikita natin sa satellite imagery ‘yung kanyang paghila sa habagat or southwest monsoon,” Pagasa weather specialist Ariel Rojas said.

Dodong was last spotted 615 kilometers east-northeast of Aparri, Cagayan, with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 60 kph.

It was moving northeast at 25 kph.

The weather disturbance is not expected to make landfall, Pagasa said. It is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility in less than 48 hours, Pagasa added.

The southwest monsoon will bring scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over the western sections of Luzon and Visayas by Tuesday tonight and Wednesday.

On Thursday, monsoon rains may prevail over Metro Manila, Western Visayas and the western sections of Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Mimaropa, according to Pagasa. (Editor: Katherine G. Adraneda)