A large portion of Luzon and Visayas, including some areas in Mindanao, may experience rains from the advancing clouds of tropical depression “Marilyn” until the weekend.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration said Marilyn entered the country’s area of responsibility around 9:30 a.m. yesterday, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.
It was estimated at 1,355 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora before noon yesterday. It is still far from land but its trough or extension may already bring rains over most of the country.
PAGASA said the trough of Marilyn may bring light to moderate rains and intermittent heavy rain showers during thunderstorms over Metro Manila, most of Luzon and Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani until this morning.
Residents in these areas, especially those living in areas identified to be highly or very highly susceptible to floods and rain-induced landslides, were asked to take extra precaution.
The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers due to localized thunderstorms.
Marilyn may further intensify into a tropical storm in the coming days.
PAGASA weather specialist Gener Quitlong said Marilyn so far has a minimal chance of making landfall over the country. However, he said, PAGASA is not discounting the possibility that the tropical cyclone may still change its track.
A gale warning is in effect as sea travel is risky for small sea craft over central and eastern seaboards of Visayas and the northern, eastern, and southern seaboards of Mindanao due to potentially rough sea condition.
Should Marilyn maintain its current speed and direction of 25 kph northwest, Quitlong said the tropical cyclone will be outside the PAR by Sunday. (Ellalyn V. Ruiz)
