‘Gorio’ leaves; ‘habagat’ persists in north Luzon

The southwest monsoon, locally known as habagat, remains the dominant weather system in the country after Tropical Depression “Gorio” left the Philippine area of responsibility after only eight hours. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said habagat would persist over the regions of Ilocos and Cordillera, and over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Zambales and Bataan provinces. Weather forecasters are also monitoring another tropical storm outside the Philippine territory with the international name “Lupit.”

—JHESSET O. ENANO