THE southwest monsoon or “habagat” will prevail again in a few days and bring rain to Western Visayas, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration reported.
The state weather bureau’s forecaster Gladys Saludes said a low-pressure area can form in the Pacific near the Philippine Area of Responsibility, either on Sunday or on Monday and enhance the “habagat.”
“That enhanced ‘habagat’ can bring moderate to occasionally heavy rain to the Visayas’ western areas, so communities there must prepare for this possibility,” Saludes said.
She also said winds from the expected intensified “habagat” will likely fan moderate to rough seas in the area.
In its 24-hour forecast released Saturday, Pagasa warned of cloudy skies with light to moderate rain and thunderstorms in Eastern Visayas, as well as Luzon’s Bicol Region and Aurora, Rizal and Quezon provinces.
Saludes, however, clarified that the “habagat” is not prevailing.
“The monsoon trough is bringing rain to east-lying areas in Luzon and the Visayas at present,” she said.
The weather bureau also forecast partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms in Metro Manila and remaining areas of the country.
“Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest to west will prevail over Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough while elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the southwest to west, with slight to moderate seas,” Pagasa added.
Citing latest data, Saludes said three tropical cyclones are outside the PAR at present.
“However, those tropical cyclones have a low chance of entering the PAR and are too far to enhance the ‘habagat,’” she said.
Saludes said Pagasa expects one of the tropical cyclones to move northwards and create the Pacific conditions that can lead to the formation of the LPA that will likely enhance the “habagat.”
“The chance that that LPA will enter the PAR is still low,” she said.
There is only a 30 percent to 40-percent chance at present for such an LPA formation, Saludes continued.
However, west-lying Visayan communities must still brace for the possible formation of the LPA and enhancement of the “habagat,” she noted.
“While expected rain there may not be as intense as the ‘habagat’ downpour Metro Manila experienced this month, it is still best to prepare for possible inclement weather,” Saludes advised.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) earlier reported that several people died, six persons sustained injuries and seven others were reported missing in Metro Manila, Luzon’s regions IV-A and IV-B and the Visayas’ region VI.
A total of 32,220 families or 154,988 persons were affected in regions I, III, IV-A, VI and Metro Manila due to the “habagat,” the council noted.
Some areas in Pangasinan, Bataan, Bulacan and Pampanga provinces, as well as some parts of Metro Manila were submerged in floodwaters measuring up to six feet, the council further reported.
It recorded spillway overflow, footbridge wash-out, tornado onslaught and drowning during the heavy downpour.