MANILA, Philippines — The southwest monsoon or “habagat” and localized thunderstorms will trigger brief rains over parts of the country on Thursday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
The state weather bureau likewise reported that the tropical depression monitored outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) has developed into a tropical storm, but is not expected to directly affect the country.
“Patuloy po apekto ng habagat dito sa malaking bahagi ng Northern and Central Luzon at pinaka-uulanin pa rin po itong western section samantalang dito sa Southern Luzon, Metro Manila, Visayas and Mindanao, asahan pa rin ang ulan dulot ng localized thunderstorms o yung mga pag-uulan na di naman po nagtatagal,” Pagasa weather specialist Benison Estareja said.
(The southwest monsoon will continue to affect a large part of Northern and Central Luzon. Rain is expected in the western parts of Luzon. Brief rains are likewise expected in Southern Luzon, Metro Manila, the Visayas and Mindanao due to localized thunderstorms.)
Storm
The tropical storm was last spotted some 2,230 km east-northeast of Batanes.
“Yung minomonitor nating bagyo sa labas ng PAR from a tropical depression ay lumakas pa po ito bilang tropical storm at meron ng international name na Maria,” said Estareja.
(The tropical depression outside the PAR has strengthened into a tropical storm with an international name of Maria.)
“Hindi naman ito papasok ng PAR at lalayo pa patungo sa silangan ng Japan at walang inaasahang direktang epekto sa ating bansa,” he added.
(It will not enter PAR and will head for eastern Japan. It will not have a direct impact on our country.)
Estareja added that Pagasa also monitored a cloud cluster inside PAR, which he said was “associated” with the trough or extension of the tropical storm.
The cloud cluster was monitored east of Luzon, but Estareja assured the public that it would also not affect any part of the country.
Meanwhile, no gale warning has been raised over any of the country’s seaboards.