Metro Manila told to brace for heavy rain Thursday morning

The weather bureau has told residents in Metro Manila and provinces in Central and Southern Luzon to brace for heavy to intense rain Thursday morning, July 9, 2015.

An orange rainfall alert was raised over Bataan and Bulacan at 8:30 a.m. by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

This means intense rain, or 4 to 8 gallons per square meter per hour, is expected in the two Central Luzon provinces.

The threat of flooding is high and residents might need to evacuate from low-lying areas.

For Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna and Rizal, the Pagasa raised a yellow rainfall alert, which means heavy rain of 2 gallons per square meter per hour is expected.

Flooding is possible and the public is advised to monitor their surroundings.

According to Pagasa’s rainfall alert system, the conditions are expected to prevail for two hours, meaning up to 10:30 a.m.

Meanwhile, light to moderate rain was affecting Quezon, Zambales, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga which may persist within three hours, Pagasa said.

Pagasa said the rainy weather was still due to the southwest monsoon or habagat, which was being enhanced by Typhoon Falcon.