Rains to mar Independence Day parade

MT Satellite image June 12, 2014, 9:01 a.m. Screengrab from https://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/

MANILA, Philippines–Although Tropical Storm “Ester” is out of the country’s area of responsibility, the weather bureau alerted residents in some parts of Luzon to brace for rains on Independence Day.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) forecasters said that the habagat (southwest monsoon) is expected to bring moderate to heavy rains over portions of Northern and Central Luzon as well as Metro Manila over the next two or three days.

Forecaster Cris Perez said that monsoon rains were anticipated on Thursday in the Batanes group of Islands, the Calayan and Babuyan group of Islands, the regions of Ilocos, Cordillera and Central Luzon.

He advised residents as well as the local disaster risk reduction management councils in these areas to take the necessary precautions against flashfloods and landslides.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have occasional rains while the Visayas and Mindanao are expected to be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms.

Pagasa also warned fishing boats and other small sea craft against venturing into the northern and western seaboards of Luzon and alerted larger vessels to waves that could reach up to 4.5 meters caused by strong to gale force winds brought by the surge of the habagat enhanced by “Ester.”

Sea conditions in the areas will be rough to very rough.