Storm warning lifted as ‘Jenny’ moves out of PH

Pagasa satellite image as of 12:50 am, August 29, 2019

MANILA, Philippines — The government weather bureau lifted all storm warning signals on Wednesday as Tropical Storm “Jenny” moved out of the country.

The storm, however, forced the cancellation of six domestic flights at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Disaster response officials in northern and central Luzon also reported flooded areas in several towns while classes in the provinces of Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Cagayan and Zambales were suspended on Wednesday.

A bulletin issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) at 5 p.m. on Wednesday said the storm’s center was estimated at 510 kilometers west of Dagupan City in Pangasinan province, and was outside the Philippine area of responsibility.

Weather specialist Benny Estrajera said the gale warning remains over the seaboards of Luzon and the western seaboard of the Visayas due to potentially rough sea conditions brought about by Jenny and the southwest monsoon (“habagat”). He said small sea vessels were prohibited from sailing until the gale warning was lifted.

Rough seas

Estrajera said the lingering effects of the southwest monsoon could bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms to Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula regions and the provinces of Pangasinan, Benguet and Negros Oriental on Thursday.

In Isabela province, floodwater submerged the Baculod Bridge here at the height of the storm, making it impassable to motorists.

In Pampanga province, rain and high tide flooded 31 villages in six coastal towns, according to the provincial disaster risk reduction and management council.

At least 52 families evacuated in Itogon town, Benguet province, on Tuesday to ensure their safety while the storm crossed northern Luzon, said Cyril Batcagan, Itogon municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer.

—Reports from Patricia Denise Chiu, Jerome Aning, Villamor Visaya Jr., Tonette Orejas, Joanna Rose Aglibot and Karlston Lapniten