Tropical depression “Dodong” is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility yesterday afternoon but monsoon rains may persist over Metro Manila and the western sections of Luzon and Visayas until Sunday.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration estimated the location of Dodong at 705 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes before noon yesteday. It has maintained maximum winds of 45 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 60 kph but is moving faster at 15 kph north-northeast.
Should it maintain its current speed and track, Dodong will be outside the country’s area of responsibility yesterday afternoon.
Although Dodong is already on its way out the PAR, PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said the southwest monsoon or “habagat” will bring light to moderate monsoon rains with occasional heavy rains from localized thunderstorms until the weekend.
Light to moderate monsoon rains were felt yesterday in the northern part of Palawan, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque, Aklan, Antique, western portion of Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Masbate, and western sections of Camarines Sur, Albay, and Sorsogon.
Today, Estareja said light to moderate monsoon rains with occasional heavy rains due to thunderstorms will affect Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Occidental Mindoro, Aklan, Antique, and Metro Manila.
From Friday until Sunday, he said monsoon rains will prevail in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, northern part of Palawan, and Metro Manila. (Ellalyn Ruiz)