Two cyclones enhance ‘habagat’
MANILA, Philippines — Residents of Metro Manila and most provinces in Luzon should brace for heavy monsoon rains on Thursday, as two cyclones on both sides of the country continued to enhance the southwest monsoon.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration warned against possible flash floods or landslides due to scattered to widespread rains, which may be moderate to heavy throughout the day.
The effects of the monsoon, locally known as “habagat,” may be felt in the capital region, Ilocos region, Cordillera and in the provinces of Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro and northern Palawan, including Calamian Islands.
The impact of the monsoon was enhanced by Typhoon Fabian (international name: In-fa) and Cempaka, which weakened into a tropical depression on Wednesday.
As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, Fabian still blew strong winds of up to 150 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 185 kph. It was almost at the country’s northern boundary, with its center at 670 km northeast of extreme Northern Luzon.
