By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
The low pressure area (LPA) being monitored off the West Philippine Sea may intensify into tropical depression “Goring” within 36 hours.
(PAGASA/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Around Thursday afternoon, the location of the LPA was estimated at 310 kilometers (km) west-northwest of Sinait, Ilocos Sur.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather specialist Ezra Bulquerin said some parts of Northern Luzon will likely continue to experience rains in the next four days due to the LPA and tropical storm “Falcon” (international name “Danas”) that enhance the southwest monsoon or “habagat.”
So far, the brewing cyclone, which will be named “Goring” once it becomes a tropical depression, is not seen to make landfall over any part of the country, Bulquerin said.
He added that the LPA will not have a direct effect on the movement of Falcon, which has already left the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday afternoon.
Falcon was last spotted 655 km north-northeast of Basco, Batanes before Thursday evening.
It further strengthened with maximum sustained winds of 80 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 100 kph. It is forecast to move north at 25 kph.
Signal No. 1 has been lifted in all areas directly affected by Falcon.
This Friday, moderate to at times heavy rains will persist in Ilocos Region, Zambales, and Bataan, while light to moderate rains will be experienced over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.
Residents in these areas, especially those in areas identified to be at risk of flooding and landslides, were advised to take precautionary measures, coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and continue monitoring PAGASA updates.
Sea travel also remains risky over the seaboard of Batanes, coastlines of Luzon, and the western seaboard of Visayas.
Metro Manila, Southern Luzon, and the eastern section of Central Luzon may expect gradual improvement in weather condition by weekend but the western section of Central Luzon and Northern Luzon will likely continue to experience rains of varying intensities in the next four days, Bulquerin said.
Meanwhile, the water level at Angat Dam in Bulacan continues to dwindle on Thursday, inching closer to its lowest recorded level of 157.56 meters.
As of Thursday morning, Angat Dam’s water level was slightly down to 158.27 meters from 158.38 meters last Wednesday.
This is due to lack of rainfall over the Angat Watershed in Bulacan, despite the passage of Falcon in Northern Luzon.
READ MORE: ‘Falcon’, habagat, LPA to bring more rains; Angat water level dips further