Monsoon rain to go on amid relief efforts

MANILA, Philippines – Rain is still in the forecast Wednesday, August 8, for Luzon and Visayas due to the southwest monsoon, weather bureau Pagasa said. La Mesa dam, on the other hand, is still overflowing.

In its 24-hour public weather forecast issued 5 am, Pagasa said Luzon will experience occasional to frequent rain, especially over its western sections, including Metro Manila, due to the monsoon.

These areas are still at risk of landslides and flooding.

Malacañang has ordered government workers to return to work to help fast-track relief efforts. At least 11 cities in Metro Manila have evacuation and relief centers. (See updated list here.)

Several barangays in Quezon City, Cainta, Marikina are still submerged in waters. Portions of the North Luzon Expressway are also flooded.

The Philippine Red Cross, on the other hand, may receive donations via Multiply, a quick way of donating to flood victims.

Outside Metro Manila, the Visayas region and Mindanao will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain or thunderstorms.

It will be rainy over Metro Manila, and the cities of Laoag, Bagiuo, Olongapo, Angeles, Tagaytay, and Puerto Princesa, while occasional rain will prevail over Tuguegarao and Legazpi cities.

Iloilo, Bacolod, Cebu, Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Zamboanga cities, meanwhile, will be partly cloudy with isolated rain and thunderstorms, the bureau said.

Moderate to strong winds coming from the southwest will prevail over the country, and coastal waters will be moderate to rough, Pagasa added.

Strong to gale force winds, brought by the monsoon, is still expected to affect Luzon, bringing rough to very rough seas around Luzon.

There is no tropical cyclone within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

The Green Warning signal was last raised over Metro Manila at 5:30 am, signifying moderate to heavy (7.5 to 12.0 millimeters per hour) of rain, at times heavy to intense (10.0 to 20.0 mm/h).

Status of dams

Four dams – Ipo, Ambuklao, Binga, and San Roque – have opened gates as of 6 am, while the La Mesa Dam is still overflowing, data from the Pagasa’s Hydrometeorological Division showed.

Here are the latest Reservoir Water Level data in meters (compared to their RWLs from 6 am August 7), and their deviation from their Normal High Water Level (NHWL):

• Angat Dam: 208.53 m, up from 203.92 m (NHWL 210.00 m)
• Ipo Dam: 100.10 m, down from 101.10 m (NHWL 100.80 m)
• La Mesa Dam: 80.41 m, down from 80.54 m (NHWL 80.15 m)
• Ambuklao Dam: 751.46 m, down from 751.72 (NHWL 752.00 m)
• Binga Dam: 574.40 m, up from 574.32 m (NHWL 575.00 m)
• San Roque Dam: 282.87 m, down from 283.36 m (NHWL 280.00 m)
• Pantabangan Dam: 208.28 m, up from 207.95 m (NHWL 221.00 m)
• Magat Dam: 191.58 m, up from 191.42 m (NHWL 190.00 m)
• Caliraya Dam: 287.12 m, down from 287.27 m (NHWL 288.00 m)

Magat Dam’s gates, which were opened Tuesday, were closed 5:45 am Wednesday, the bureau added. – Rappler.com