More rain expected in next 3 days – Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — Rainfall in Luzon will persist until tomorrow amid the continued effects of Typhoon Hanna and the enhanced southwest monsoon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Hanna (international name Haikui) was expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) last night or this morning.

“Outside the PAR region, Typhoon Hanna will become slow-moving as it moves westward or west-northwestward over the Taiwan Strait,” PAGASA assistant weather services chief Chris Perez said in a press briefing. “It is forecast to make its final landfall along the coast of Guangdong or Fujian in China on Tuesday as a severe tropical storm.”

Perez said the dark clouds brought by Hanna were affecting a portion of the northern tip of Luzon. Hanna also enhanced the southwest monsoon, causing dark clouds in the rest of Northern Luzon and certain parts of Central and Southern Luzon as well as Western Visayas.

Heavy rain over Ilocos region and in the provinces of Abra, Bataan, Benguet, Occidental Mindoro and Zambales will persist until Wednesday, according to Perez.

Metro Manila will experience rainfall today and tomorrow, he said.

Meanwhile, the water level in Angat Dam in Bulacan has reached 201.43 meters due to continuous rain.

“As the rains are expected to continue, we expect the water level in Angat to further improve,” PAGASA hydrologist Sonia Serrano said.

Angat Dam supplies more than 90 percent of Metro Manila’s potable water needs. It irrigates 25,000 hectares of farmlands in Bulacan and Pampanga.

The Ipo and Bustos dams, also located in Bulacan, continued to release water as of yesterday morning. — Ramon Efren Lazaro