Monsoon still prevailing over Luzon

MTSAT ENHANCED-IR Satellite Image 5:32 A.M., 09 August 2012. Image courtesy of Pagasa.

MANILA, Philippines – The southwest monsoon will still prevail over Luzon on Thursday, August 9, bringing rain over the area.

In its 24-hour public weather forecast released 5 am, state weather bureau Pagasa said Luzon, including Metro Manila, will still experience occasional rain becoming frequent over the western areas of the island.

The rain could trigger flashfloods and landslides, the bureau warned.

Mindanao, meanwhile, will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain and thunderstorms, while Visayas will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated rain & thunderstorms.

Rain is forecast for Metro Manila, Laoag City, Baguio CIty, Olongapo CIty, Angeles City, Tagaytay City, and Puerto Princesa City. Tuguegarao and Legazpi cities, meanwhile, will experience occasion rain.

Iloilo, Bacolod, Cebu, Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and Zamboanga cities, meanwhile, will have weather that will range between partly cloudy to mostly cloudy, with scattered rain & thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds will be coming from the southwest over Luzon and Western Visayas; the rest of the country, meanwhile, will experience light to moderate winds.

However, the bureau also issued a gale warning for Luzon’s seaboards, where strong to gale force winds are expected.

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

On Wednesday, August 8, the bureau said the monsoon has weakened slightly after tropical cyclone Haikui, which has been enhancing it, made landfall near Shanghai, China.

Weather conditions are expected to improve today through the weekend.

As of 7 pm Wednesday, here are the latest Reservoir Water Level data in meters (compared to their RWLs from 6 am August 8), and their deviation from their Normal High Water Level (NHWL), from the Hydrometeorological Division of the state weather bureau Pagasa.

Angat Dam: 209.90 m, up from 208.53 m (NHWL 210.00 m)
Ipo Dam: 100.24 m, up from 100.10 m (NHWL 100.80 m)
La Mesa Dam: 80.33 m, down from 80.41 m (NHWL 80.15 m)
Ambuklao Dam: 751.13 m, down from 751.46 (NHWL 752.00 m)
Binga Dam: 573.05 m, down from 574.40 m (NHWL 575.00 m)
San Roque Dam: 282.38m, down from 282.87 m (NHWL 280.00 m)
Pantabangan Dam: 208.39 m, up from 208.28 m (NHWL 221.00 m)
Magat Dam: 191.57 m, down from 191.58 m (NHWL 190.00 m)
Caliraya Dam: 286.72 m, down from 287.12 m (NHWL 288.00 m)

La Mesa Dam is still overflowing, while Ipo, Ambuklao, Binga, and San Roque Dams still have open gates as of 7 pm Wednesday. – Rappler.com

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