Monsoon rain to persist in parts of Luzon until Friday, Aug 9

MANILA, Philippines — Expect the storm-enhanced monsoon rains to continue in various parts of Luzon until tomorrow, August 9, 2019, the state weather bureau said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration on Thursday said that moderate to heavy monsoon rains may persist in Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro tomorrow, Friday.

Light to moderate with at times heavy monsoon rains may also be experienced up to Friday over Metro Manila and the rest of Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Mimaropa, it added.

Pagasa explained that the southwest monsoon or habagat is currently being enhanced by Typhoon Hanna (international name: Lekima).

Windy conditions will likewise continue over the western sections of Luzon and Visayas due to the enhanced southwest monsoon, according to Pagasa weather specialist Chris Perez.

As of midday Thursday, Pagasa said Hanna grew stronger packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph, as it moves northwest at 15 kph.

It added that Hanna was last spotted 490 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes, and that Signal No. 1 remained over Batanes and Babuyan group of islands. /kga