TS Mulan outside of PAR to enhance habagat rains over PH

MANILA, Philippines — The weather bureau is monitoring two weather disturbances outside the Philippine area of responsibility — a low pressure area in the east-northeast of Luzon, and Tropical Storm Mulan, which is expected to enhance southwest monsoon in the northwestern section of the country.

In its 4 AM weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that TS Mulan was last seen at 880 kilometers west of northern Luzon, and is moving in the north-northwest direction, and with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, and gustiness of 80 kph.

Pagasa said that while TS Mulan has low chances of entering PAR, it still is expected to enhance the effects of the southwest monsoon, locally known as “habagat,” to dump more rain in the region and other parts of the country.

“Ayon sa ating latest analysis ay mas mababa na ang chances nito na pumasok sa loob ng PAR ngunit patuloy nitong ine-enhance yung southwest monsoon o habagat na patuloy namang nakaka-apekto sa western section ng Luzon. Ineexpect natin ngayong araw na magduduloy pa rin ito ng pag ulan sa ilang bahagi ng Luzon,” said Pagasa weather specialist Grace Castañeda.

(Based on our latest analysis, there is a low chance of TS Mulan entering PAR, but it will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon affecting the western section of Luzon. We expect it to dump more rains in some parts of Luzon.)

Meanwhile, the LPA some 2,000 kilometers east-northeast of extreme northern Luzon still has a low chance of becoming a tropical depression, and will likely “recurve” and not enter PAR. It won’t have any direct effect in the country.

Ilocos Region, Zambales, Bataan, and Kalayaan islands can expect cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms due to the enhanced southwest monsoon.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon or localized thunderstorms, Pagasa further said in its weather bulletin.

The state weather bureau also cautioned the areas affected by heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorms of possible flashfloods and landslides.

Castañeda added that fisher folks and other residents in the western seaboard of Northern Luzon should avoid going out to sea due to moderate to rough waves, ranging from 2.1 to 4 meters high.

“Sa kasalukuyan, mayroon pa rin tayong nakataas na gale warning dahil pa rin ito sa southwest monsoon o habagat, dito sa western seaboard ng Luzon, partikular na yan sa western coast ng Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, maging sa bahagi din ng Bataan, Lubang Island at Kalayaan Islands,” said Castañeda.

(Due to the southwest monsoon, gale warnings are still raised over the western seaboard of Luzon, particularly the western coast ng Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, maging sa bahagi din ng Bataan, Lubang Island at Kalayaan Islands).

Pagasa listed these temperature ranges in the following cities and areas on Wednesday.

Metro Manila — 25 to 32 degrees Celsius
Baguio — 15 to 23  degrees Celsius
Laoag — 24 to 31 degrees Celsius
Tuguegarao — 24 to 34  degrees Celsius
Legazpi —  25 to 32 degrees Celsius
Puerto Princesa — 25 to 32 degrees Celsius
Tagaytay — 22 to 30 degrees Celsius
Kalayaan Islands — 25 to 31 degrees Celsius
Iloilo — 24 to 32 degrees Celsius
Cebu — 24 to 32 degrees Celsius
Tacloban — 25 to 32 degrees Celsius
Cagayan de Oro — 24 to 31 degrees Celsius
Zamboanga — 24 to 34 degrees Celsius
Davao — 24 to 34 degrees Celsius

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