Improved weather seen Thursday

MANILA, Philippines—After Wednesday’s heavy rains that led to the cancellation of classes in Metro Manila, the weather is expected to improve on Thursday in most parts of Luzon.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) recorded heavy rainfall Wednesday in Quezon City brought about by the southwest monsoon.

Exiting typhoon Kabayan and a low pressure area off Ilocos Sur continued to enhance the southwest monsoon.

“Since Kabayan is exiting, the southwest monsoon will slowly weaken,” weather forecaster Buddy Javier said by phone. “The weather will improve in the coming days.”

The southwest monsoon is still expected to bring rains over the western section of northern and central Luzon, including Laoag and Baguio cities and Pampanga and Zambales provinces on Thursday, Javier said.

The rest of Luzon, including Metro Manila, will be cloudy with rainshowers, he said.

Kabayan was swirling 1,030 kilometers east northeast of Basco, Batanes, at around 10 a.m. Wednesday. It was forecast to be 100 km south southwest of Okinawa, Japan, by Friday morning.

The low pressure area, on the other hand, was hovering in an area 70 km southwest of Sinait, Ilocos Sur, Wednesday morning.

Six tropical cyclones entered the Philippine area of responsibility in July, three more than the usual,  according to Pagasa.

The fifth cyclone to enter the country last month was Kabayan, now about to exit the Philippine area of responsibility, while the sixth was Lando, which has weakened into a low pressure area off Sinait.

The bureau has predicted three cyclones to hit the country this month.

“The July-September period is the peak period of the cyclones. They’re just peaking now,’’ Javier said.