Warm weather to continue – Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines - The country will continue to enjoy warm weather until tomorrow, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.

Weather forecaster Fernando Cada said the temperature in the country would range between 32 to 33 degrees Celsius.

He said there is nothing extraordinary about warm weather during the rainy season since the southwest monsoon still prevails.

He said the atmosphere is “warm and moist” with isolated rain showers.

Cada said the low-pressure area that was monitored at 980 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon at 4 a.m. yesterday dissipated before 2 p.m.

PAGASA said the islands of Batanes, Babuyan and Calayan would experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers or thunderstorms. Metro Manila and the rest of the country would have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest would prevail over extreme Northern Luzon and its coastal waters would be moderate to rough.

Elsewhere, winds would be light to moderate coming from the southeast to southwest with slight to moderate seas.

Bulacan dams discharge water

Despite the good weather in Central Luzon the past few days, Bustos Dam in Bulacan has been discharging water to bring down the water elevation caused by rains brought by the southwest monsoon.

Pre-emptive release of water from Angat and Ipo dams were also advised as the country braces for four more typhoons this month and in October.

“We have to look forward and see the possibilities. It might cause another flooding in Bulacan,” said Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Alvarado after meeting with dam operators in the province on Friday afternoon.

He said water elevation in Angat Dam is nearing its spilling level as of Friday morning.

Gerardo Esquivel, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System administrator, said Bustos Dam, which is downstream of Angat River, must first discharge water to accommodate water from Angat and Ipo dams.

Esquivel said the water level in Angat Dam should remain at 210 masl to ensure steady supply of potable water for Metro Manila next year.

Precioso Punzalan of the National Irrigation Administration said they have to release water from Bustos Dam for at least a week to bring down its water elevation to 16.30 masl.

Punzalan said the gradual discharge of water into Angat River would avoid aggravating the flooding in Hagonoy and Calumpit town due to the high tide. – With Dino Balabo