The enhanced southwest monsoon or "habagat" continues to bring rains in the large portion of the archipelago, the state weather bureau said on Sunday, July 16.
Photo credit to MB Visual Content Group
In its 4 a.m. update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that Tropical Storm (TS) Talim, formerly known as "Dodong" intensified the southwest monsoon.
"This southwest monsoon or 'habagat' brings rains in the large portion of the country, circulates in the entire Philippines, and rains in Luzon including Metro Manila and Western Visayas," Weather Specialist Daniel James Villamil said in a mix of Filipino and English.
Tropical Storm Dodong became "Talim" as it left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on July 15.
Read:
https://mb.com.ph/2023/7/15/tropical-storm-dodong-exits-par-continues-enhancing-habagat-1
TS Talim update
At 3 a.m., PAGASA spotted "Talim" 390 kilometers (km) west of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.
The TS possessed maximum sustained wind of 85 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 105 kph while moving west-northwest at 20 kph.
Cloud clusters may become LPA
"May minomonitor po tayong cloud clusters o kumpol ng kaulapan sa silangang bahagi ng Mindanao area outside Philippine Area of Responsibility (We are monitoring a cloud cluster in the eastern part of Mindanao outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility)," Villamil stated.
"Hindi natin tinatanggal ang posibilidad na ang kumpol ng kaulapan na ito ay mamuo bilang low pressure area sa mga sususnod na mga araw (We are not ruling out the possibility that this cloud cluster may become low pressure area [LPA] in the next few days)," he added.
Gale warning remains
Due to the enhanced southwest monsoon, PAGASA hoisted a gale warning signal as the coastal waters will be light to strong throughout the archipelago.
The places with gale warning signals are Batanes, Babuyan Island, Marinduque, Romblon, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, western coast of Batangas, and Occidental Mindoro, including Lubang Island.
Meanwhile, the same warning signal is also hoisted in Palawan, including Calamian, Cagayancillo, Cuyo, and Kalayaan Island; the southern coast of Quezon; Antique; Iloilo; Guimaras; and the northern coast of Aklan. (Sonny Daanoy)