No storms in next few days, but rains persist

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is expected to be storm-free at least in the next three days, but rains will persist in most parts of Luzon and Western Visayas due to the southwest monsoon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Gener Quitlong, PAGASA senior weather forecaster, said the shallow low-pressure area off Iba, Zambales has left the country and was forecast to dissipate in the next few days.

As of 2 a.m., the shallow low-pressure area was spotted at 535 kilometers west of Iba, Zambales.

Meanwhile, Tropical Depression Marilyn, which has weakened into a low-pressure area, continued to move away from the country. The weather disturbance was estimated at 1,665 km east northeast of Basco, Batanes at 2 a.m.

Marilyn, which did not make landfall, left the country on Saturday night.

Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol region, and Western Visayas will still experience cloudy skies with scattered rains due to the southwest monsoon today.

Improved weather condition is expected over Metro Manila by tomorrow and Wednesday, Quitlong said.

Good weather, apart from isolated rains due to thunderstorms, will prevail over Baguio City today until Wednesday.

The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rains. A total of 13 cyclones have entered the Philippine area of responsibility so far this year.

Monsoon rains swamp Bulacan areas

Low-lying areas in Bulacan province were flooded by more than two feet of water after moderate to heavy rains yesterday.

The rains made the river system in the City of San Jose del Monte swell and rage down toward the waterways of Santa Maria, Bocaue, Marilao and Meycauayan City, which overflowed to low-lying villages.

The provincial disaster risk reduction management office (PDRRMO) of Bulacan reported that at least four barangays in Meycauayan City were flooded up to one-and-a-half feet; four in Marilao town were submerged up to more than two feet and four in Bocaue were inundated up to one foot.

The PDRRMO reported that Lias Road in Marilao town was stil unpassable to light vehicles as of noon yesterday and is still being updated on flood situations in Bulacan as of this writing.

The floods caused by the swelling river systems in Bulacan were aggravated by the high tide of Manila Bay that the PDRRMO said peaked at 10:22 a.m. at 1.04 meters of 3.41 feet.

The high tides of Manila Bay affects the coastal towns and cities of Bulacan and aggravates the swelling river system coming from the eastern portion of the province.

The PDRRMO also reported that as of 8 a.m. yesterday, the water level of Angat Dam rose to 187.03 meters, which is still 24.97 meters below its normal high water level of 212 meters. Ipo Dam was at 101.23 meters, which is slightly above its spilling of 101.00 meters while Bustos Dam was at 17.62 meters, also slightly above its spilling level of 17.50 meters. – With Ramon Lazaro