Monsoon to bring more rain in Metro Manila, other parts of Luzon

MANILA, Philippines — Monsoon rain will continue to drench Metro Manila and several provinces in Luzon this week, the weather service said.

Rain brought by the southwest monsoon, locally known as “habagat,” have triggered widespread floods in the capital region and nearby provinces over the weekend, forcing thousands to evacuate for their safety.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said residents in Metro Manila, Ilocos region and the provinces of Abra, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas and Occidental Mindoro should still brace for moderate to heavy rains, as well as possible flash floods and landslides, on Monday.

Those living in Cagayan Valley and Antique provinces, and the rest of Cordillera, Central and Southern Luzon should expect cloudy skies with scattered showers and thunderstorms at the beginning of the week.

Pagasa said the southwest monsoon was expected to be the dominant weather system until Friday.

As of Sunday, no tropical cyclones are within the Philippine territory, as Typhoon “Fabian” (international name: In-Fa), exited the country’s area of responsibility on Saturday.

Another tropical storm

Weather forecasters are also monitoring another tropical storm, with the international name “wNepartak,” which remained outside the Philippine territory.

As of 3 p.m. on Sunday, its center was 2,840 kilometers east northeast of extreme northern Luzon. Blowing winds of up to 75 km per hour near the center and gusts of 90 kph, Nepartak moved northward at 15 kph.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Sunday three fatalities, two of them in a lightning strike in Ilocos Norte, and over 5,000 families displaced by floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains in eight regions.

According to the NDRRMC, among the three fatalities were a 39-year-old woman who was killed when a tree fell on her car along Kennon Road in Baguio City; and two persons, aged 15 and 35, who were reportedly struck by lightning in Barangay Tartarabang, Pinili town in Ilocos Norte.

Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government asked town and city mayors nationwide to temporarily transfer vaccination centers, which are located in flood-prone areas.