Pagasa: Weather to improve before weekend

MANILA, Philippines – Better weather is on the horizon for rain-soaked parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila, as the Southwest Monsoon weakened slightly Wednesday, August 8.

In its 11 a.m. advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the monsoon weakened after Tropical Cyclone Haikui moved farther and made landfall near Shanghai, China early morning Wednesday.

Haikui has been “enhancing” the monsoon rain in the Philippines, even if it was out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

Weather is expected to slightly improve further before the weekend, Pagasa said, as the southwesterly winds weaken.

Despite this, rain is still a possibility within the next 12-24 hours. Batangas will experience light to moderate rain (2.5-5.0 millimeters per hour), while the following areas will have intermittent moderate to heavy rain (5-10 mm/h):

Pangasinan
Nueva Ecija
Pampanga
Tarlac
Bulacan
Bataan
Rizal
Cavite
National Capital Region

The bureau is still warning residents in these areas against flashfloods and landslides, as well as Lahar flows around Mount Pinatubo.

Wednesday forecast

Earlier, 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.

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.

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.

Moderate to strong winds coming from the southwest will prevail over most of 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). – Rappler.com

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Everyone is encouraged to help out. Check this list of evacuation centers and relief operations in Metro Manila for places near you.

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