The state weather bureau, on Thursday, Sept. 8, said tropical storm Inday is less likely to directly affect the country’s weather condition.
Last spotted 1,215 kilometers (km) east of Central Luzon, Inday maintained its strength while moving westward over the Philippine sea at 15 kilometers per hour (kph). It has maximum sustained winds of 75 kph.
“This tropical cyclone may reach severe tropical storm category within 24 hours and intensify further as it tracks the favorable environment of the Philippine sea. The possibility of a rapid intensification within the forecast period is not ruled out,” said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in its 5 a.m. bulletin.
Although less likely to directly affect the country’s weather condition, PAGASA warned that this weather disturbance may bring rough seas over the seabords of northern Luzon beginning Saturday, Sept. 10.
Inday is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Sunday, Sept. 11 or Monday, Sept. 12.
ITCZ affects Palawan, Mindanao
The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), on the other hand, is affecting Palawan and Mindanao. In the next 24 hours, cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms may prevail in Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARRM).
Residents of the aforementioned areas were advised to remain vigilant against possible hazards including landslides and flash floods during moderate to heavy rains.
Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country may experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers in the next 24-hour period due to the ITCZ and localized thunderstorms.