Rainy Saturday seen in NCR, western parts of Luzon due to habagat

It will be a rainy Saturday in Metro Manila and the western parts of Luzon due to the southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Butchoy (international name Nepartak), the state-weather bureau warned on Wednesday.

“This is the one we need to prepare for,” Esperanza Cayanan, weather division chief of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, said in a press briefing.

Although Butchoy won’t directly hit the country and will exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Friday, it will pull the prevailing southwest monsoon in Luzon and Visayas.

READ: Butchoy intensifies; to boost habagat in south Luzon, Visayas

By Friday, western sections, particularly in Mindoro, will be affected by moderate to occasional heavy rains.

Additionally, the western sections of Luzon and the National Capital Region will experience moderate to heavy rains on Saturday.

“Expect Saturday to be rainy for us (in Metro Manila),” Cayanan said.

She also warned of possible flashfloods and landslides over the provinces of Mindoro, Bataan, Zambales, Pangasinan, and Benguet.

“Sa Benguet, mountainous; so (maybe there will be) landslides,” Cayanan said.

READ: Signal No. 1 up in Batanes due to ‘Butchoy’

Gale warning was also raised over the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon. Fishing boats and other small sea vessels were advised to avoid the sea. JE