Storm moves out of Philippines, heads toward China

MTSAT ENHANCED IR Satellite Image for 4:32 a.m., 29 June 2012

MANILA, Philippines—Tropical Storm “Dindo” (international name: Doksuri) was moving out of the country and expected to head towards southern China, the state weather bureau said Friday.

Dindo was spotted 380 kilometers west-northwest of Laoag City, keeping its speed and direction at 19 kilometers per hour west-northwest towards southern China, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its latest weather bulletin.

The storm maintained its strength at 75 kilometers per hour with gustiness of 90 kilometers per hour. Expected amount of rainfall was still heavy at 15 to 25 millimeters per hour, Pagasa said.

Rains over western Luzon and Visayas can still be expected as Dindo continues to enhance the southwest monsoon.

Numerous flights and boat trips in several provinces of north Luzon were cancelled, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said in its latest report Friday.

Seven domestic flights were cancelled due to bad weather: two Flights from Manila to Laoag and vice versa with flight numbers PR 226 and PR 227, four flights from Manila to Tuguegarao and vice versa with flight numbers 5J 504, 5J 505, 2P 014, and 2P 015, and One flight from Caticlan to Manila with flight number 5J 902.

A total of 24 motor bancas and 42 passengers in Aparri, San Vicente, Dilasag Claveria Ports in the province of Cagayan cancelled their trips because of the bad weather, the NDRRMC said.

Originally posted at 5:54 a.m.