THE state weather bureau has warned the public, especially those in Luzon and Visayas, against possible flooding and landslides due to rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) and Tropical Storm Hanna (Lekima).
In a rainfall warning advisory posted Tuesday morning, August 6, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) issued a Red Level Alert to Occidental Mindoro due to Habagat.
It said serious flooding and landslides are expected in low-lying and mountainous areas, respectively, in Occidental Mindoro.
An Orange Level Alert was issued to Busuanga, Coron, Culion, Linapacan, El Nido, Agutaya, Magsaysay, Cuyo, Taytay, San Vicente, Roxas, Puerto Princesa, Dumaran, Aracelli, and Cagayancillo in Palawan. Threats of flooding and landslides are expected in these areas, said Pagasa.
The weather bureau also said that monsoon rains will be experienced in Mimaropa, Aklan, and Antique, and flash floods or landslides are expected due to moderate with at times heavy rainshowers.
Cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms will be experienced in Bicol, Calabarzon, Zambales, Bataan, and the rest of Western Visayas.
In Metro Manila and the rest of the country, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers will be experienced, as well as possible flashfloods or landslides during severe thunderstorms.
The weather bureau advised residents living in areas prone to floods and landslides to take necessary precautions, as well as to coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices and to continue monitoring updates.
Pagasa said that as of 3 a.m. Tuesday, August 6, the center of Tropical Storm Hanna was estimated based on all available data at 815 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan.
The storm was packing maximum winds of 85 kilometers per hour (km/h) and gusts of 105 km/h.
It is almost stationary, added Pagasa. (SunStar Philippines)