Tropical storm Inday (international name: Muifa) maintained its strength and remained less likely to bring heavy rainfall in the country throughout the forecast period, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Thursday, Sept. 8.
Inday was last located 1,045 kilometers (km) east of northern Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 90 kph. It is moving westward at 20 kph.
“The latest forecast scenarios for Inday show that the hoisting of Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) over any land area in the country remains less likely,” said PAGASA in its latest bulletin issued as of 5 p.m.
Although less likely to bring heavy rains across the country, Inday may bring moderate to rough seas over the seaboards of extreme northern Luzon.
“Ang nakita lang natin ngayon ay yung humahabang extension o trough nitong si Inday ay nakakaapekto na ngayon dito sa eastern Visayas. Inaasahan natin dyan ang maulap na papawirin na may kalat-kalat na pag-ulan at pagkulog (What we have noticed is that the extension or through of Inday is now affecting eastern Visayas. Cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms is expected in that area),” said PAGASA weather specialist Raymond Ordinario in a press briefing.
Meanwhile, the rest of the country, including Metro Manila, will continue to experience a generally fair weather condition with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms in the next 24 hours.
Within 24 hours, Inday is forecast to reach severe tropical storm category. Afterwards, it may exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Sunday, Sept. 11 or Monday, Sept. 12.