Carina closer to exiting PAR, but moderate to intense rainfall still expected

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Carina (international name: Gaemi) weakened further on Thursday morning as it moved closer to exiting the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), according to state meteorologists.

A weather update from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) as of 4:00 a.m. of Thursday showed that Carina was packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour with a gustiness of up to 250 kph.

It was last seen 465 kilometers north of Itbayat, Batanes, or in the vicinity of Hsinchu County, Taiwan. Carina is moving on a northward pattern at a speed of 20 kph.

READ: Carina weakens; continues to enhance habagat – Pagasa

As of this writing, only Batanes is under a Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1.

Pagasa expects that the typhoon will no longer directly affect the country’s weather systems.

However, despite Carina weakening, state meteorologists say that the cyclone will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat, causing rains over the following areas from Thursday to Saturday:

• Ilocos Norte
• Tarlac
• Zambales
• Bataan
• Pampanga
• portions of Abra
• Metro Manila
• Rizal
• Bulacan

Moderate to intense rainfall

“Typhoon Carina is now less likely to directly bring heavy rainfall over any portion of the country. However, the southwest monsoon enhanced by Carina will bring moderate to intense rainfall over various localities in the western portion of Luzon today through Saturday,” Pagasa said.

“The southwest monsoon enhanced by Carina will also bring strong to gale-force gusts over the following areas: Today and tomorrow (26 July): Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, the eastern portion of Isabela, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Negros Occidental, and Northern Samar,” it added.

According to Pagasa, Carina is still expected to exit the PAR on Thursday morning, eventually cross the Taiwan Strait, and land over China.

“Carina is forecast to exit the PAR region this morning, cross the Taiwan Strait, and make its final landfall over southeastern China this afternoon or evening. This typhoon will continue to weaken as it further interacts with the mountainous terrain of Taiwan and the landmass of southeastern (China),” Pagasa said.

“Considering these developments, the public and disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned are advised to take all necessary measures to protect life and property. Persons living in areas identified to be highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards are advised to follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials,” it added.

Several roads and communities over Metro Manila and nearby provinces were flooded due to non-stop rains brought by the southwest monsoon, as intensified by Carina.

Classes at all levels and government work have been suspended in Metro Manila as the region was placed under a state of calamity.

As of Wednesday night, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said at least 10,818 families in the National Capital Region (NCR) alone — or 46,116 individuals — were rescued and are currently staying in evacuation centers due to the floods.