‘Mina’ strengthens; more rains seen

Tropical depression “Mina” on Tuesday intensified into a tropical storm after days of hovering over the Philippine Sea, spawning more rain in the eastern section of the archipelago.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the storm would enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rainshowers and thunderstorms over the eastern sections of Northern and Central Luzon, Southern Luzon and Visayas.

Pagasa said these would be widespread rains over the Bicol region, Palawan and Western Visayas that may trigger flashfloods and landslides.

“Palawan, Mindoro, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and the National Capital Region will be wet tomorrow,” Pagasa Supervising Undersecretary Graciano Yumul said by phone.

As it swirled farther northward, Mina would pull the southwest monsoon to bring rain over Bataan and Zambales, he said.

Mina, packing winds of 65 kph and gustiness of up to 80 kph, was swirling over the Philippine Sea 355 km east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes at around 4 p.m. Tuesday.

It has slowed down from 11 kph to 5 kph.

“Instead of Friday, it will be out of the Philippine area of responsibility on Sunday. We should expect rain until that day. As it moves farther away, it’s expected to intensify into a typhoon,” Yumul said.

The coastal waters will be moderate to rough throughout the archipelago.