Rainy Wednesday due to 2 weather disturbances; gale warning raised

MANILA, Philippines — Most parts of Luzon and Western Visayas are expected to experience rainy weather on Wednesday due to two weather disturbances that will enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat, the state weather service said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said  that as of 4AM, typhoon Fabian was last spotted 740 km east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 130 kms per hour (kph) near the center, and gustiness of up to 160 kph.

It is moving in the west-southwest direction.

Meanwhile, severe Tropical Storm Cempaka spotted outside PAR was located at 1,090 km west of extreme northern Luzon.

“Itong dalawang weather disturbances ang nag eenhance ng habagat o southwest monsoon sa ating bansa. Ang pinaka apektado ang Luzon at Western Visayas,” weather weather specialist Benison Estareja said in a virtual briefing.

(The two weather disturbances will enhance the southwest monsoon in the country, and Luzon and Western Visayas remain the most affected.)

Fabian is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Saturday, and is expected to be located 680 km north of Itbayat Batanes, near the northern coast of Taiwan, where it will continue to decelerate.

Pagasa likewise issued a gale warning in the coast of Batanes, northern coast of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island and western coast of Palawan including Kalayaan Island, which will have a rough to very rough sea condition with 2.5 to 4.5 meters of waves.

“Halos dalawang palapag na gusali ang taas ng alon doon kaya pagbabawalan muna ang small sea vessels, lalo na ang mga mangingisda.”

(The waves there will be as high as a two-story building, which is why small sea vessels would not be allowed to sail from now.)

The remaining parts of the country will also have moderate to rough sea condition, with exception of the southern part of the country, which would have a mild to moderate sea condition.

Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, and Northern Palawan including Calamian Islands will experience monsoon rains, while the rest of Luzon and Western Visayas will expect cloudy skies with isolated rains and thunderstorms, according to Pagasa.

The rest of the country should expect a fair weather condition with chances of isolated rains and thunderstorms, PAGASA added.

EDV