MANILA, Philippines — Overcast skies and scattered rain showers will prevail in Mimaropa and Western Visayas this Friday, July 21, due to the southwest monsoon, locally called habagat.
In a public weather forecast, Benison Estareja of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned that the monsoon rain may likely cause floods and landslides in affected areas.
He added that the southwest monsoon is expected to intensify in the next few days.
“Dahil sa habagat ay mataas ang tiyansa ng pag-ulan sa malaking bahagi ng Mimaropa. Asahan ang kalat-kalat na ulan at thunderstorms na posibleng magdulot ng pagbaha o pagguho ng lupa,” said the weather specialist.
(Due to the southwest monsoon, there is a high probability of rain in most parts of Mimaropa. Expect scattered rain and thunderstorms that may cause flooding or landslides.)
“Sa ating mga kababayan naman sa Visayas, pinaka apektado ang western section ng mga pag-ulan dulot ng southwest monsoon,” he added.
(As for our countrymen in the Visayas, the western section will be most affected by the rain brought by the southwest monsoon.)
As for Metro Manila and the rest of the country, expect partly cloudy to cloudy skies or generally fair weather this Friday, July 21, according to Estareja. Although, he also said, isolated rain showers in the afternoon or evening are still possible due to localized thunderstorms.
Meanwhile, Pagasa is still monitoring a potential cyclone within the Philippine area of responsibility.
Estareja said the low-pressure area (LPA) was last spotted 950 kilometers east of Southeastern Luzon.
“Walang direct effect ang LPA sa alin mang panig ng bansa for now. Inaasahan po ngayong araw na magiging tropical depression o magiging mahinang bagyo na po itong LPA, given na ang sirkulasyon na nakikita natin ay mas naging compact,” said Estareja.
(For now, the LPA has no direct effect on any part of the country. We expect that this LPA will become a tropical depression or a weak cyclone today, given that the circulation we see has become more compact.)
Once it develops into a typhoon, it will be given the local name Egay, Pagasa said.
READ: Pagasa: LPA off Eastern Samar may become Tropical Depression Egay in 24 to 48 hrs
At this time, the state weather bureau has not raised any gale warning over any of the country’s seaboards, which means fishermen with boats and other small sea vessels are safe to sail.
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