Pagasa: Rain showers to continue Wednesday

MTSAT ENHANCED IR Satellite Image for 5:32 p.m., 03 July 2012

MANILA, Philippines – Don’t put away your umbrellas and boots yet; the rains are likely to continue up to Wednesday morning.

The low pressure area (LPA) that triggered rain showers and caused widespread flooding in Metro Manila since early Tuesday was still in the vicinity of Manila Bay or 40 kilometers west of Manila, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Nikos Penaranda of Pagasa said the 150-kilometer diameter LPA will affect the entire north and central Luzon, including Metro Manila.

Penaranda said that the rains in Metro Manila will last up to Wednesday morning. In northern and central Luzon, the rains will continue up to the afternoon or evening.

He warned that the rain-battered mountainous areas of the north and central Luzon could create landslides.

Estimated rainfall amount would be below five millimeters per hour, Penaranda said.

“We are confident that by Thursday, we will see improved weather conditions,” he said.

The LPA was moving westward towards the West Philippine Sea where it would possibly intensify but would not cause any significant disturbances to the country anymore.