The southwest monsoon or “habagat” and the trough of a storm expected to become a typhoon when it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility this weekend are expected to bring rains over parts of the country still reeling from the lashing of Typhoon “Egay” this week.
Tropical Storm Khanun, which will be named “Falcon” in the Philippines, will trigger monsoon rains over Zambales and Bataan, the state weather bureau said in its 24-hour public weather forecast issued at 4 p.m. on Friday.
Flooding or landslides due to scattered to widespread rains are possible in th said areas, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
The weather bureau said the hoisting of storm signals over any part of the country was unlikely but added that it might enhance the southwest monsoon and bring occasional or monsoon rains over western portions of Luzon and the Visayas starting on Saturday or Sunday.
The habagat is also expected to bring occasional rains over Metro Manila, Pangasinan, Occidental Mindoro, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Northern Palawan including Calamian, and Cuyo Islands, and the rest of Central Luzon.
Flooding or landslides due to moderate to heavy rains are seen in these areas.
The southwest monsoon will likewise bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms in the Visayas, Cordillera Administrative Region, the rest of CALABARZON, the rest of Ilocos Region, the rest of Central Luzon, and the rest of MIMAROPA, Batanes, and Babuyan Islands.
The trough of Khanun will bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms in Mindanao, the weather bureau said. Rio Araja
Still outside the PAR, Khanun was spotted 1,365 kilometers east of Southern Luzon. It has maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
PAGASA said Khanun is forecast to move generally north-northwestward until Sunday afternoon over the Philippine Sea. It may enter the PAR between late evening today and Sunday morning.
PAGASA said Khanun is expected to become stronger in the next five days.