Pagasa: TD Dante weakens but monsoon rain will persist over Luzon

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression Dante (international name: Choi-wan) has weakened even after re-entering the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), and rains are likely to continue over the western portion of Luzon this weekend due to the southwest monsoon, according to state meteorologists.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Friday that the southwest monsoon, locally known as habagat, has started to affect the western parts of Northern and Central Luzon.

Dante, however, will still have an effect over the extreme northern Luzon, as it was last seen 210 kilometers west-northwest of Basco, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 70 kph.

It is moving northeastward at a speed of 10 kph, Pagasa said.

Due to Dante’s proximity to the northern islands, the state weather service again raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 over Batanes.

Dante is expected to move 255 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, on Saturday morning, and leave the PAR by Saturday afternoon.

“By tomorrow, inaasahan natin ang patuloy na maulap na papawirin na may mga kalat-kalat na pag-ulan at pagkulog dyan sa Ilocos Region, Zambales, at Bataan, dahil na ‘yan sa epekto ng ating habagat,” weather specialist Raymond Ordinario said.

(By tomorrow, we are expecting cloudy skies and isolated rains and thunderstorms over Ilocos Region, Zambales, and Bataan to continue because of the effects of the southwest monsoon.)

“Samantala, ang nalalabing bahagi ng Luzon kasama ang Metro Manila ay magkakaroon naman ng generally fair weather condition or maaliwalas na panahon, at malaki ang tsansa ng afternoon to early morning thunderstorms especially on the western section,” he added.

(Meanwhile, for the rest of Luzon including Metro Manila, there will be a generally fair weather condition, although there is a high chance of  afternoon to early morning thunderstorms, especially on the western section.)

Temperatures will slightly go down for Luzon’s western side, with Laoag likely having it at 25 to 31 degrees Celsius; Baguio, 17 to 25 degrees Celsius; and Tagaytay, 22 to 33 degrees Celsius — in contrast to Metro Manila and Puerto Princesa’s 26 to 33 degrees Celsius, and Legazpi’s 27 to 32 degrees Celsius climate.

Warm and humid conditions are also seen to prevail over Visayas and Mindanao, as temperatures over Iloilo, Cebu, and Davao are expected to range from 26 to 33 degrees Celsius; Tacloban, 26 to 31 degrees Celsius; Zamboanga, 25 to 35 degrees Celsius; and Cagayan de Oro, 25 to 34 degrees Celsius.

A gale warning remains placed over the northern seaboards of Luzon, as waves as high as 2.8 meters to 4.0 meters may be anticipated in the area.

KGA