More floods, traffic woes seen in next few days

MANILA, Philippines - Commuters and motorists in Metro Manila must brace for more floods and traffic jams in the next days.

Severe thunderstorms are expected in the metropolis this weekend, according to Rene Paciente, chief of the marine meteorological section at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

“We could still experience severe thunderstorms like what happened last Tuesday,” Paciente said.

Motorists and commuters were stuck in floods and horrendous traffic in many parts of Metro Manila on Tuesday night following a heavy downpour.

Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms will also be experienced over the Ilocos region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Zamboanga peninsula and Benguet province due to the southwest monsoon, PAGASA said.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of the country, the agency added.

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

Paciente said PAGASA was monitoring a low-pressure area over the West Philippine Sea.

It is possible that it will intensify into a tropical cyclone, he added, though the weather disturbance has a slim chance of entering the Philippine area of responsibility.