
Super typhoon Goring (international name: Saola) may continue to enhance the effect of the southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” and bring rains to the western parts of Luzon and Visayas over the next three days, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Wednesday, Aug. 30.
In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Goring was last spotted 125 kilometers west-southwest of Basco, Batanes, and was moving west-northwest at a speed of 15 kilometers per hour (kph) toward the West Philippine Sea.
Enhanced ‘habagat’
Although it is already heading out of the Philippine area of responsibility, Goring is still strengthening the effect of the habagat, which brings heavy rains to Zambales, Bataan, Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Metro Manila Pangasinan, La Union, Benguet, Antique, Negros Occidental, and Guimaras on Wednesday.
PAGASA said heavy monsoon rains may persist in Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, and the northern portion of Palawan, including Calamian and Cuyo Islands on Thursday, Aug. 31.
Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Nueva Ecija, La Union, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, Pangasinan, and Occidental Mindoro may continue to experience heavy monsoon rains on Friday, Sept. 1.
“Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are expected especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps and in localities that experienced considerable amounts of rainfall for the past several days,” PAGASA warned.
Signal No. 2 still up
Goring has maintained its maximum sustained winds of 195 kph near the center and gusts of up to 240 kph.
However, the number of areas directly affected by Goring’s strong winds has decreased as the super typhoon continues to move away from the country.
Only Batanes and Babuyan Islands remain under Signal No. 2, while Ilocos Norte, the northern portion of Abra, Ilocos Sur, Apayao, and the northern and central portions of Cagayan remain under Signal No. 1 as of 11 a.m.
PAGASA said Goring may leave the country’s area of responsibility by Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.