Red rainfall warning up in Metro Manila

MANILA – Government raised at 4:30 a.m. on Saturday its red rainfall warning over the entire Metro Manila, expecting occurrence of serious flooding in this largest Philippine urban center particularly in low-lying areas and sites near river channels.

“Expect intense to torrential rains over Metro Manila and most likely to continue for the next two to three hours,” Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in the warning.

Intense rainfall ranges from 15.1 to 30 millimeters per hour (mm/hr), Pagasa noted.

The agency also said torrential rainfall exceeds 30 mm/hr.

"Residents in high risk areas are advised to take precautionary measures and keep monitoring updates," it said.

Red rainfall warning indicates need for community response and is the highest in Pagasa's three-tiered, color-coded rainfall warning system.

Pagasa issued the warning after observing occurrence of torrential rainfall over Quezon City, Pasig City and Manila for the past three hours.

Such rainfall is due to onslaught of the southwest monsoon which was intensified by typhoon "Karen," said Pagasa forecaster Bernard Punzalan.

“At 4 a.m. today, typhoon 'Karen' was located based on satellite and surface data at 690 km east of Itbayat, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 185 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 220 kph,” Pagasa said in its 24-hour weather forecast issued Saturday at 5 a.m.

Pagasa forecasts "Karen" to move north at 15 kph.

The weather forecast also said Metro Manila will be cloudy with occasional moderate to heavy rains and thunderstorms.

”Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest and Manila Bay will be moderate to rough,” it continued.

Pagasa further said occasional moderate to heavy rains will be experienced in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region and Western Visayas which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.

”The rest of Visayas and Northern Luzon will be cloudy with scattered light to moderate rains while Mindanao will have partly cloudy skies with isolated rains or thunderstorms in the evening,” it noted.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast to northwest will also prevail over Northern Luzon and coming from the southwest over the rest of the country, the agency said.

Coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough. (PNA)