‘Inday’ is gone, but rains linger

MANILA, Philippines–Although Tropical Storm “Inday” left Philippine territory on Thursday, its enhancement of the habagat, or the southwest monsoon, is expected to continue until the weekend, just as Tropical Cyclone Jose (International name: Halong) makes its appearance, the weather bureau said.

Inday left the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday. It was last spotted 605 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes, or 115 kilometers south of Okinawa, Japan, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

But the tropical storm will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon which will bring occasional rains Friday over Metro Manila, the Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, the Bicol Region and the Western Visayas, said forecaster Alvin Pura.

The rest of the country is anticipated to be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms Friday.

Pura advised fishing boats and other small sea vessels against venturing into the seaboards of Luzon because of strong to gale force winds associated with the surge of the enhanced habagat.

Sea conditions in the areas are expected to be rough to very rough with big waves that could reach up to 4.5 meters.

Pura said Halong is expected to enter the PAR by Sunday night or early Monday morning when it will be named “Jose”.

He said Halong is more than 1,000 kilometers east of Luzon and is projected to move north-northwest to Japan.

“It will only graze the PAR and will not have any direct effect on the country,” Pura said.

But Jose could also enhance the southwest monsoon when it draws nearer and bring rains until the middle of next week, he said.–Jeannette I. Andrade