PAGASA monitors LPA as 'Emong' leaves Philippines

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical storm "Emong" is now out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility, but it will continue to spawn heavy rains and thunderstorms over parts of Luzon and Visayas, the state weather bureau said Thursday morning.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that as of 4 a.m., the storm's center was estimated at 570 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes.

It has maintained its strength, packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 90 kph. It was moving north at 22 kph.

"[Emong] will continue to enhance the Southwest Monsoon which will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms over the western sections of Luzon and Visayas and light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms over the rest of the country," PAGASA said in its weather bulletin.

Small boats were advised not to venture into the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon and the western seaboard of Southern Luzon due to big waves generated by the storm.

Meanwhile, the weather bureau said it is now also monitoring a low pressure area 450 kilometers west of Tanauan, Batangas as it may also develop into a storm.

It said Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon including Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Bicol will continue to experience monsoon rains.

Parts of Visayas and Mindanao will also have moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms.