Heavy rains expected over Luzon due to Ineng

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression Ineng has intensified and is expected to bring heavy rains over parts of Luzon, particularly Bicol, in the next three days.

No tropical cyclone wind signal, however, was raised as of yesterday afternoon as Ineng remained far from landmass, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

As of 3 p.m, the center of Ineng was spotted at 1,135 kilometers east of Infanta, Quezon, packing winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

Ineng accelerated in the afternoon and was moving northwest at 15 kph.

The storm was not expected to make landfall in any part of the country, according to PAGASA senior weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio.

The outer cloud band of the storm, however, will bring moderate to heavy rains over the Bicol region and Cagayan Valley today and Friday.

The rest of Luzon will have light to moderate rains due to the southwest monsoon.

By Saturday, Ineng will bring moderate to heavy rains over Batanes area as it moves toward Taiwan.

No gale warning was issued but PAGASA warned fishermen and seafarers against moderate to rough seas in the eastern sections of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Ineng, the ninth tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the second this month, was expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Sunday.