Metro Manila and several provinces in Luzon and Visayas are experiencing heavy rains this Saturday attributed to the southwest monsoon or ‘habagat’ enhanced by tropical storm ‘Crising.’
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), in its latest bulletin, reported that the storm maintained its strength while moving away from extreme northern Luzon.
It warned of rainfall between 50 to 100 millimeters across Metro Manila, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, Siquijor and the Negros Islands.
A heavier rainfall outlook (100 to 200 mm) is projected over Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Palawan, Occidental Mindoro and Antique.
As of 5 a.m. on Saturday, the tropical storm’s center was monitored at 125 kilometers west northwest of Calayan, Cagayan.
It was moving west-northwestward at 25 km per hour (kph) with maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph.
Areas with Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 in effect include Batanes, Cagayan (Santa Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Abulug, Ballesteros, Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Santa Teresita, Buguey, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Allacapan, Lal-Lo, Lasam, Rizal, Santo Niño, Gattaran, Alcala) as well as Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Apayao (Calanasan, Luna, Pudtol, Kabugao, Flora, Santa Marcela), and Abra (Tineg, Lagayan).
Several local government units, including those in Metro Manila, announced class suspensions in light of the bad weather as streets turned into rivers due to floods.
