MANILA, Philippines – The enhanced southwest monsoon or habagat will bring more rain to parts of the country in the next three days, the weather bureau warned on Thursday evening, September 12.
The southwest monsoon is being enhanced by Severe Tropical Storm Bebinca, which is still located outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
As of 11 pm on Thursday, here is the updated rainfall forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) for the enhanced southwest monsoon:
Thursday evening, September 12, to Friday evening, September 13
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 millimeters): Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Antique, Negros Occidental
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, southern part of Quezon, rest of Mimaropa, rest of Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Sultan Kudarat
Friday evening, September 13, to Saturday evening, September 14
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Antique
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, southern part of Quezon, rest of Mimaropa, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, rest of Western Visayas, Negros Island Region
Saturday evening, September 14, to Sunday evening, September 15
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Occidental Mindoro, northern part of Palawan, Antique
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Batangas, southern part of Quezon, rest of Mimaropa, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, rest of Western Visayas, Negros Occidental
PAGASA advised areas affected by the enhanced southwest monsoon to be on alert for possible floods and landslides.
On Friday, September 13, the enhanced southwest monsoon will also cause moderate to rough seas in the eastern seaboard of Mindanao (waves 1 to 3.5 meters high); seaboards of Palawan and western seaboard of the Visayas (waves 1 to 3 meters high); and northern seaboard of Luzon, eastern and southern seaboards of the Visayas, and northern and western seaboards of Mindanao (waves 1 to 2.5 meters high). Small vessels should not venture out to sea.
The weather bureau added that up to moderate seas are expected in the southern seaboard of Mindanao, eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon and Bicol, and remaining seaboard of Mimaropa (waves up to 2 meters high). The weather bureau advised small vessels to take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible.
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Meanwhile, Bebinca was located 1,725 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon at 10 pm on Thursday, moving north northwest outside PAR at 25 kilometers per hour. This pace is slower than its speed of 35 km/h in the afternoon.
The severe tropical storm slightly weakened, with its maximum sustained winds easing a bit from 100 km/h in the afternoon to 95 km/h in the evening. Its gustiness also went down from 125 km/h to 115 km/h.
PAGASA said Bebinca is still projected to enter PAR on Friday afternoon or evening. When it enters, it will be given the local name Ferdie.
The severe tropical storm will only stay briefly inside PAR, with its exit likely to happen late Friday evening or Saturday morning, September 14.
It will only pass over waters near the PAR northeastern boundary and will not make landfall, but its enhancement of the southwest monsoon is a concern.
After Bebinca leaves PAR, it may strengthen into a typhoon by Saturday.
– Rappler.com