Heavy Rains Threaten Parts of Luzon Due to Southwest Monsoon

Manila: Heavy rains will be experienced in parts of Luzon due to the prevailing southwest monsoon or 'habagat', the weather bureau said on Tuesday. Monsoon rains will prevail across Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, and Occidental Mindoro. Flash floods or landslides are possible due to heavy to intense rains in those areas, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said. According to Philippines News Agency, Metro Manila, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Laguna, Rizal, Oriental Mindoro, and Antique will experience occasional rains, while scattered rains and thunderstorms are forecast in Negros Island Region, the rest of Luzon, and the rest of Western Visayas. The rest of the Visayas and Mindanao will have isolated rain showers due to habagat and localized thunderstorms. PAGASA warned that moderate to heavy rains, as well as severe thunderstorms, could result in flash floods or landslides. Meanwhile, mod erate to strong winds and moderate to rough seas will prevail across the northern and western sections of Luzon, and the eastern section of Mindanao. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate with slight to moderate seas. The weather bureau has been monitoring a low pressure area (LPA) inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility. The LPA, located 1,115 km east of Northern Luzon as of 3 a.m., has a high chance of developing into a tropical cyclone in the next 24 hours, PAGASA said.