MANILA, Philippines — A typhoon-enhanced southwest monsoon, locally termed habagat, is bringing heavy rain to Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon on Thursday, the state weather bureau said.
In a severe weather bulletin released at 5 a.m. Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) noted that three weather events are boosting the southwest monsoon: Super Typhoon Goring (international name: Saola), Severe Tropical Storm Hanna (international name: Haikui), and Tropical Storm Kirogi.
Goring left the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) at 7:50 p.m. on Wednesday, Hanna entered the PAR at 9 p.m. on Wednesday while Kirogi was located outside the PAR.
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In a press briefing, Pagasa weather specialist Benison Estareja said the enhanced effects of the southwest monsoon may be experienced in the country even in the coming days.
“Ngayong araw po and even in the coming days may epekto pa din po ng habagat and even ng mga pag-ulan, mayroon ding mga pag-bugso ng hangin dahil pinalalakas po ito ng Bagyong Hanna at formerly Goring,” he said.
(Today and even in the coming days, the southwest monsoon’s effects will remain, including rain and gust of wind, because it is being strengthened by Typhoon Hanna and formerly Goring.)
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According to Estareja, Metro Manila, the Ilocos Region, Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan and Calamine Islands in Palawan are forecast to receive 50-100 millimeters of rains on Thursday.
Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro, meanwhile, is seen to receive 100-200 millimeters of rains, he added.
The 5 a.m. advisory of Pagasa showed that Hanna’s eye is spotted 1,225 kilometers east of extreme northern Luzon, packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of 115 kph.
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Hanna is expected to exit the PAR by Friday afternoon or evening, Estareja noted, adding that Pagasa is not likely to raise Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals due to Hanna.
Goring, meanwhile, was located 225 kilometers west of Itbayat, Batanes – outside the PAR, packing wind speeds of up to 195 kph and gustiness of 240 kph.