Magat, La Mesa Dam below spilling level, so far

Magat Dam (Inquirer file photo/ Richard A. Reyes)

MANILA, Philippines — La Mesa Dam in Quezon City and Magat Dam in Isabela are still below their spilling levels amid expected rains in Luzon due to Tropical Storm Enteng (international name: Yagi), state meteorologists said on Tuesday.

Edgar Dela Cruz, weather specialist of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), however, would not rule out the possibility that the dams will eventually reach spilling level.

Pagasa earlier issued a heavy rainfall warning for Metro Manila and parts of Luzon on Tuesday due to Enteng.

Dela Cruz said that as of 8:00 a.m. Tuesday,  La Mesa Dam’s water level is 79.92 meters, about .23 meters away from its spilling level of 80.15 meters.

“Ngayong umaga medyo bumaba pero hindi natin inaalis ang posibilidad na umabot sa spilling level dahil nage-expect pa rin po tayo ng pag-ulan,” Dela Cruz said over radio dwPM.

(This morning, the water level subsided a bit, but we are not ruling out the possibility that it will reach the spilling level because we still expect rain.)

On Monday, La Mesa Dam’s water level reached 80 meters.

Last July, La Mesa Dam overflowed after its water level reached 80.17 meters due to Typhoon Carina.

Also as of 8:00 a.m., Magat Dam’s water level was at 184.75 meters, or  5.25 meters away from its spilling level of 190 meters, according to Dela Cruz.

“Ngayon kapag nakaranas po ng pag-ulan sa may watershed ng Magat, pwede po ma-reach yang 190 [meters],” he said.

(Now, once we experience rainfall in Magat’s watershed, then that 190 meters [spilling level] may be reached.)

Pagasa hoisted Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 in six areas in Luzon and TCWS No. 1 in 11 other areas.