Severe tropical storm “Carina” (international name “Nida”) has already moved outside the country’s area of responsibility on Monday morning but continues to enhance the southwest monsoon or hanging habagat that may bring moderate to heavy monsoon rains over western Luzon.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) estimated the location of Carina at 330 kilometers (km) northwest of Laoag City before Monday noon.
The storm slightly intensified as it draws strength from the West Philippine Sea, packing maximum sustained winds of 105 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 135 kph. It is forecast to move west-northwest at 24 kph.
PAGASA said Carina no longer has any direct effect on any part of the country prompting the agency to lift all tropical cyclone warnings in all areas earlier affected by the storm.
However, the weather bureau warned residents of Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales and Bataan against moderate to heavy rains due to the storm-enhanced southwest monsoon that may trigger flash floods and landslides in these areas.
Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms is expected over Metro Manila, rest of Luzon, Western Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula, while partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of the country this Tuesday. (ELLALYN B. DE VERA)
