‘Habagat’ brings rains over western Luzon, Western Visayas
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Sat, 27 Jul 2019 09:15:41 +0000
The southwest monsoon or “habagat” will prevail over some parts of western Luzon and Western Visayas this weekend.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration weather specialist Meno Mendoza said there is no low pressure area or tropical cyclone that may directly affect the country today.
The habagat will bring isolated rain showers and thunderstorms over Metro Manila, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pampanga, Tarlac, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Masbate, and Visayas.
The rest of the country will experience localized thunderstorms that may bring sudden heavy rains, especially in the afternoon or evening.
PAGASA warned that sudden rains due to severe thunderstorm activity may cause flash floods or landslides in low-lying or mountainous areas.
Angat Dam has benefited from the incessant afternoon and evening rains in the past few days as its water level increased by 24 centimeters yesterday.
Based on PAGASA monitoring, the water level at Angat Dam rose to 161.46 meters yesterday from 161.22 meters last Friday.
Its current level is still low although it is a little over the 160-meter critical level.
Angat Dam still needs more than 300 millimeters of one-time rainfall to recover to its minimum operating level of 180 meters.
To reach its 210-meter normal high water level, about 1,200 millimeters of rainfall, equivalent to four to five tropical cyclones, will be needed.
Authorities have pinned their hopes on the arrival of tropical cyclones that may help in the full recovery of the Angat Dam which is likely by next month. (Ellalyn V. Ruiz)