MANILA, Philippines — Residents of Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro were warned of heavy rain by the state weather bureau on Saturday due to the effects of the southwest monsoon, locally called “habagat.”
“Asahan natin ang sa Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro ang pinaka malakas na ulan ngayong araw. Posible tayong magtaas ng heavy rainfall warnings as high as orange and red,” said Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) weather specialist Benison Estareja in a public forecast.
(The heaviest downpour during Saturday is expected in Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro. We may raise heavy rainfall warnings as high as orange and red.)
Estareja said the southwest monsoon is being enhanced by tropical storm Doksuri, formerly known as Egay, which is now over mainland China.
“Yung mga pag-ulan natin ngayong araw ay dahil sa habagat na siyang pinalalakas ni bagyong Egay na eventually ay palalakasin naman ni bagyong Falcon sa mga susunod na araw,” said Estareja.
(The rain showers we will experience Saturday are due to the southwest monsoon that is being strengthened by tropical cyclone Egay, which eventually will be strengthened by tropical cyclone Falcon in the next few days.)
Light to moderate with at times heavy rain showers or at least 50 to 100 millimeters of rain may likewise prevail in Metro Manila, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Antique, and Northern Palawan on Saturday due to the cyclone-enhanced southwest monsoon.
Meanwhile, the state weather bureau is also monitoring an active tropical cyclone inside the country’s area of responsibility.
Although tropical storm Falcon is expected to remain over the Philippine sea throughout the forecast period, its trough or extension is already causing cloudy skies with scattered rain showers in Eastern Visayas and Caraga, according to Estareja.
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