‘Domeng’ keeps strength, to dump more rain in parts of Luzon, Visayas

Tropical Depression “Domeng” maintained its strength as it continued to move north-northwest on Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

The weather disturbance packed maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 60 kph, according to the latest bulletin of the state weather bureau.

Domeng, which was last located 605 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes, moved north-northwest at 15 kph. Pagasa noted it will enhance the southwest monsoon affecting Luzon and Visayas.

Cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rain and isolated thunderstorms could be expected over Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western and Eastern Visayas, as well as the provinces of Aurora, Bataan, and Zambales.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon would likely experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rain and isolated thunderstorms.

Mindanao, meanwhile, will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers.

Pagasa said Domeng is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Sunday.

But a tropical storm, with international name “Ewiniar,” was also spotted outside PAR. Ewiniar was tracked 1,175 kilometers west of Basco, Batanes. It packed maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gusts of up to 80 kph.                      /kga