‘Ineng’ spares Visayas but Habagat threat on

CEBU, Philippines —  Although Tropical Depression Ineng may not have a direct effect on Cebu and the Visayas, the state weather bureau yesterday said the southwest monsoon or Habagat will continue to bring scattered rains and strong winds in the region.

Alfredo Quiblat Jr., chief of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration Visayas, told The FREEMAN that Cebu and the rest of the Central Visayas, including Western Visayas, may experience light to moderate rains until Thursday.

Eastern Visayas, meanwhile, will be at the receiving end of the rains dumped about by the trough or the extension of Ineng, according to Quiblat. This means there may be heavy rains in Leyte, Samar, Southern Leyte and other provinces in Region 8 these following days.

Quiblat added that Cebu will likely experience thunderstorms and strong winds in the next two days.

Although no gale warning has been issued, fishermen with small fishing boats in the Visayas are warned against the 30-40 kph winds and waves that can reach up to two meters.

Quiblat said that the effects of TD Ineng will have been gone by Friday in the Visayas, but strong winds may still be felt.

Moving upward on the west-northwest direction at 15 km/h, TD Ineng is forecast to intensify into a tropical storm within 24-48 hours and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility in the morning of Sunday, August 25.

TD Ineng's eye was last spotted at 930 km east of Virac, Catanduanes as of 10 a.m. of Wednesday. It has sustained maximum winds of 55 km/h and gustiness of up to 70 km/h. — JMD (FREEMAN)