Pagasa raises orange rainfall warning in Metro Manila

A Filipino boy and his mother take shelter inside a plastic sheet as rain pours in Manila, Philippines on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014. The Philippine weather bureau says Typhoon Kalmaegi was located based on all available data at 266 km North Northeast of Virac, Catanduanes or at 347 km East Southeast of Casiguran, Aurora with maximum winds of 120 kph and gustiness of up to 150 kph. It is forecast to move West Northwest at 20 kph. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

MANILA, Philippines—As Typhoon “Luis” barreled through Luzon, the weather bureau late Sunday evening raised the orange rainfall warning in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces including Bataan, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Rizal, Tarlac and Zambales.

An orange warning means 15 millimeters-30 mm of rainfall is expected in the next two hours, while a yellow warning is raised when the expected rainfall amount is between 7.5 mm and 15 mm within one hour. The orange alert was raised as of 10 p.m.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said

flooding could happen in low-lying areas if the rain continued for the next couple of hours.

As of 10 p.m., the eye of “Luis” was last spotted at Pinukpuk, Kalinga.

Weather forecaster Joey Sarmiento said “Luis” had the diameter that could affect Metro Manila.

“It’s Typhoon ‘Luis’ that’s bringing the rains over Metro Manila; it has a very large diameter,” Sarmiento said.

Pagasa also raised a yellow warning signal over Quezon province.