Tropical depression ‘Ineng’ to bring rain over Visayas, Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines — The trough or extension of Tropical Depression “Ineng” may bring rain in parts of the country on Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Service Administration (Pagasa) said.

In its 5 a.m. briefing, the state weather bureau said “Ineng” was spotted at 975 km east of Virac, Catanduanes or 1,245 km east of Infanta, Quezon with maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h and gustiness of up to 70 km/h. It is moving towards north at 10 km/h, slightly slower than its previous speed of 15 km/h.

Pagasa said the trough of the tropical depression will bring cloudy skies with scattered rain and thunderstorms in Visayas, Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), Bicol Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, and Davao Region.

The same weather condition will also be felt in Batanes and the Babuyan Group of Islands due to the southwest monsoon or “habagat.”

Flashfloods or landslides may also happen due to scattered light to moderate to at times heavy rain in these areas, according to Pagasa.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain caused by localized thunderstorms.

“Ineng” is not expected to make landfall in any part of the country, but may intensify into a tropical storm in the next 12 to 24 hours, the bureau said.

The tropical depression is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Sunday. /muf