Tropical Depression Caloy enhances habagat; rains expected across PH

MANILA, Philippines — Rain is expected across the archipelago due to the southwest monsoon or habagat, further enhanced by Tropical Depression Caloy, the state weather bureau said Wednesday.

In its early morning public forecast, the Philippine, Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Caloy was last monitored 395 kilometers west of Iba, Zambales with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kilometers per hour.

“Patuloy nitong binabaybay ang West Philippine Sea palabas ng ating area of responsibility. Bagamat malayo na nga ito sa ating kalupaan ay patuloy pa rin nitong pinapalakas ang habagat na magdudulot ng monsoon rains lalong lalo na ‘yan sa kanlurang bahagi ng Luzon at Visayas,” Pagasa weather specialist Grace Castañeda explained.

(It continues to move over the West Philippine Sea and out of our area of responsibility. Though it is far from our country’s lands, it will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon which will cause monsoon rains especially in the western section of Luzon and Visayas.)

She further noted that the Caloy-enhanced southwest monsoon will trigger heavy rains in Bataan, Zambales, Palawan, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Aurora, and Quezon.

“Mataas na nga ‘yong banta ng pagbaha at pagguho ng lupa kaya ina-advise natin ‘yong mga kababayan natin diyan na makipagugnayan sa ating lokal na pamahalaan para sa mga aksyon na maaari nating gawin para sa ating kaligtasan,” Castañeda added.

(We’re warning residents in these areas of possible flash floods and landslides, so it is advised that they coordinate with their local government units on measures to ensure their safety.)

Pagasa said that the strengthened southwest monsoon will similarly induce scattered rain showers in the rest of Luzon, including Metro Manila, as well as in Visayas and the Zamboanga Peninsula.

On the other hand, it forecasted generally fair weather conditions with chances of isolated rains in the remaining areas of Mindanao.

According to Castañeda, Caloy may exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Thursday morning as it continues to slowly move westward.

“Bukas, ine-expect natin na maaari na itong lumabas ng ating PAR ngunit hindi pa rin natin inaalis ‘yong posibilidad na magkaroon ng pagbabago sa pagkilos nito at maaari pa itong maglagi ng medyo mas matagal pa sa loob ng PAR,” she stressed.

(We’re expecting the tropical depression to leave the PAR by tomorrow, but we’re also not ruling out the possibility of it lingering a little longer in case its pattern of movement changes.)

Caloy developed into a tropical depression Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, the state weather bureau outlined the temperature range in the following cities and areas on Wednesday:

Metro Manila — 24  to 31 degrees Celsius
Baguio — 16 to 22 degrees Celsius
Laoag —  24 to 31 degrees Celsius
Tuguegarao — 24 to 31 degrees Celsius
Legazpi — 25 to 30 degrees Celsius
Puerto Princesa — 25 to 30 degrees Celsius
Tagaytay — 22 to 28 degrees Celsius
Kalayaan Islands — 25 to 30 degrees Celsius
Iloilo — 24  to 30 degrees Celsius
Cebu — 24 to 31 degrees Celsius
Tacloban — 25 to 31 degrees Celsius
Cagayan de Oro — 24 to 30 degrees Celsius
Zamboanga — 24 to 32 degrees Celsius
Davao — 25 to 32 degrees Celsius

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