Pagasa terminates yellow rain warning

MANILA, Philippines – Yellow rainfall alert was terminated in Metro Manila and nearby provinces as rains caused by the storm-enhanced southwest monsoon eased Monday afternoon.

“Light to moderate rain was observed over Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga and portions of Laguna, Quezon, Cavite, Batangas and Occidental Mindoro for the past two hours. With this development, Yellow Rainfall Advisory is now terminated,” the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said at 2p.m.

Moderate to heavy rainfall is still expected over Bataan and Zambales, which may persist within three hours. Flooding in low-lying areas may still prevail over these areas.

The weather bureau hoisted orange rainfall alert twice Monday morning then lowered it to yellow by midday.

In Pagasa’s extended weather outlook, the rainy weather will likely continue until Wednesday, Sept. 25.

The southwest monsoon was bringing rains in Luzon and Visayas.

Gilbert Aquino, weather observer from Pagasa, told INQUIRER.net that a storm over the Pacific Ocean located more than a thousand kilometers away was enhancing the southwest monsoon.

Tropical storm “Pabuk” was on its way to Japan but it’s affecting the southwest monsoon, he said, adding that the storm will not likely enter the country.

Typhoon “Odette” (Usagi), the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, was already too far away from the country to affect the weather here, he also said.

No low pressure area was also being monitored by the weather bureau, Aquino said.

“Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Calabarzon will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms which may trigger flashfloods and landslides,” Pagasa said in its morning forecast.

Meanwhile, Mimaropa and Bicol Region will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms. Northern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail throughout the entire archipelago and the coastal waters will be moderate to rough.