‘Karding’ keeps strength; monsoon rain to continue over Luzon, Visayas

From Pagasa website

Tropical Storm “Karding” has maintained its strength as it headed north-northeast, the state weather bureau said Thursday.

The storm continued to blow winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Karding was last spotted 1,265 kilometers east of Basco Batanes, moving north-northeast at 15 kph.

It is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) between Friday evening and Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, the low pressure area last spotted 730 kilometers west of Northern Luzon is still outside PAR.

The two weather disturbances nevertheless will enhance the southwest monsoon affecting the whole country, Pagasa said.

Overcast skies with scattered rain and thunderstorms will likely be experienced in Metro Manila,  Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, and Western Visayas.

The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rains or thunderstorms, according to Pagasa.   /kga