Tropical depression "Dindo" may not make landfall but cyclone-enhanced monsoon rains will persist over most of the country in the next 24 hours, according to a state weather forecaster who issued the weather update at 5 p.m. Saturday, August 1.
As of Saturday afternoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) estimated the location of “Dindo” at 610 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes. It has further intensified packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts up to 70 kph.
Should it maintain its north-northwest track at 15 kph, the weather disturbance will likely be outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Monday as a tropical storm, the report said.
"Dindo" has no direct impact on the country at the moment but a tropical storm with international name “Sinlaku” which is 1,180 km west of Northern Luzon, or outside the PAR, continues to enhance the "habagat." It has maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
The cyclone-enhanced "habagat" may bring occasional light to moderate with at times heavy monsoon rains over Luzon, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, and Davao Region within 24 hours.
The rest of the country will also be cloudy with scattered rains and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon.
"Floods and rain-induced landslides may occur during heavy or prolonged rainfall, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards," weather specialist Samuel Duran warned.
A gale warning remains in effect over the northern and western coast of Luzon on Saturday due to potentially rough seas that make sea travel dangerous for small boats. Fisherfolk and those using small sea vessels are not yet allowed to set sail over these coasts.
Likewise, those venturing out over the other coasts of the country should take extra precautions due to moderate to rough seas.
PAGASA also advised the public and local disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned to take appropriate measures and monitor the rainfall or thunderstorm advisories and heavy rainfall warnings issued by PAGASA's regional services divisions.