Northern luzon: Northern Luzon residents have been alerted and urged to monitor weather announcements amid the light to moderate to at times heavy rainfall in the region for days. "All are advised to take precautionary measures against the impacts associated with these hazards," Engr. Cynthia Iglesia, senior weather specialist and chief meteorological officer of the Northern Luzon Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Regional Services Division, said on Wednesday.
According to Philippines News Agency, Iglesia said flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas identified in the official hazard maps and in localities with a considerable amount of rainfall in the past few days. As of the moment, Iglesia said the amount of rainfall is still manageable, however, the public is advised to monitor the weather and watch out for the next heavy rainfall warning from PAGASA.
Due to bad weather, the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative cancelled its scheduled nine-hour power interruption for the safety of linemen and crew, who will conduct system improvement and maintenance work. Meanwhile, in a public advisory, Laoag City agriculturist Sheila Marie Opelac advised rice farmers to check the weather before sowing so as not to waste inputs given to them by the city government. "To those who have sown and are situated in flood-prone areas, make sure the waterways are unclogged," Opelac said as she reminded the farmers to insure their crops with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation for their protection.
As heavy rain is still expected for the rest of Wednesday and even the next few days, motorists passing through the Manila North Road, especially in the landslide-prone area of Barangay Pancian in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, are advised to take precautions. A heavy rainfall outlook issued by PAGASA, about 50 to 100 millimeters (mm) of rainfall, classified as moderate to heavy, may persist in Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Ilocos Norte, Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro until Thursday noon.
This is expected to intensify up to Friday noon, with 100 to 200 mm of heavy to intense rain likely over Cagayan, Isabela, Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro. From Friday noon to Saturday noon, moderate to heavy rainfall is expected over Batanes, Cagayan, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro. PAGASA warned that the amount of rainfall may be higher in mountainous and elevated areas, and the impact may be harder in communities that have already experienced significant rainfall in recent days.
