Manila: The prevailing southwest monsoon, locally known as 'habagat', alongside the trough of Tropical Storm Mitag, previously referred to as Tropical Depression Mirasol, is expected to bring rain to various regions of the Philippines, as stated by the weather bureau on Thursday afternoon.
According to Philippines News Agency, Mitag was located approximately 465 kilometers west-northwest of Calayan, Cagayan, outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, as of 3 p.m. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that the cyclone's trough is predicted to cause scattered rains and thunderstorms over areas including Batanes, the Babuyan Islands, and Ilocos Norte.
The influence of the habagat will extend similar weather conditions to Metro Manila, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, and the Zamboanga Peninsula. PAGASA warned residents in these areas of moderate to heavy rains, which could potentially lead to flash floods or landslides.
Other regions of the country will experience isolated rain showers due to the habagat and localized thunderstorms. PAGASA forecasts moderate winds and moderate coastal waters across Northern Luzon, while the rest of the country will encounter light to moderate winds and slight to moderate seas.
In the meantime, Tropical Depression Nando has accelerated, moving northwestward at a speed of 15 kilometers per hour. As of 4 p.m., Nando was positioned 1,260 kilometers east of Central Luzon, maintaining its strength with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kilometers per hour. PAGASA noted that Nando is unlikely to affect local weather conditions directly in the next 48 hours.
