More rains this week as storm approaches Philippines

MANILA, Philippines - More rain was forecast for most parts of the country this week due to the southwest monsoon or habagat, which would likely be enhanced by an approaching tropical storm from the east, the state weather bureau said yesterday.

The tropical storm with international name Soudelor is expected to intensify into a typhoon before it enters the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday. It will be locally named Hanna.

As of yesterday afternoon, Soudelor was packing winds of 90 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 120 kph. It was moving west northwest at 25 kph. 

Although it is unlikely to hit landmass, the storm could enhance the southwest monsoon that will dump rains in many parts of the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

PAGASA said the enhanced southwest monsoon would start dumping rain over Mindanao by Wednesday and over Visayas and Luzon by Friday.

Meanwhile, PAGASA said the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) will continue to bring light to moderate rains and thunderstorms over Mindanao, western and central Visayas, and Palawan in the next 24 hours.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms will prevail over Metro Manila and the rest of the country, it said.

PAGASA said coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate.