After falling consistently in the past few weeks, the water elevation of Angat Dam has increased by more than a meter due to some rains over the watershed area in Bulacan.
Based on the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration monitoring, Angat Dam’s water level rose by 1.21 meters from 185.42 meters last Tuesday to 186.63 meters yesterday.
This has been a significant improvement as Angat Dam’s water level has been gradually decreasing since early October.
Authorities are closely monitoring the level of Angat Dam as it remains below the desired 210-meter normal high water level by the end of 2019.
This is to ensure that the dam’s year-end elevation is sufficient to supply the multi-requirements of its service areas on domestic supply, irrigation, and energy at least until the first half of 2020.
Angat Dam is the main water source of Metro Manila.
The arrival of sufficient rain remains critical to feed the watershed in Bulacan but so far, there is no tropical cyclone or weather disturbance that may directly affect the country today.
As of yesterday morning, the low-pressure area that brought rains over Palawan and Visayas has moved farther outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
It was estimated 895 kilometers west of Southern Luzon and has intensified into a tropical storm.
PAGASA weather specialist Loriedin dela Cruz said the storm has no direct effect over the country.
The areas earlier affected by the weather disturbance will have improved weather, she said. Palawan and Visayas, in particular, will have generally fair weather.
Meanwhile, a weak LPA was located 865 kms east of Davao City yesterday morning.
So far, dela Cruz said, it is not expected to become a tropical depression but the public should continue monitoring updates on this weather disturbance.
It also has not direct effect yet over the country as of yesterday, she said.
The easterlies, or warm and humid winds coming from the Pacific, will be the prevailing weather system over the eastern parts of Northern, Central, and Southern Luzon.
It may bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Sorsogon, Aurora, Quezon, Cagayan, and Isabela.
PAGASA advised the public to watch out for possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms in these areas.
The northeast monsoon or “amihan,” meanwhile, will persist over extreme Northern Luzon, bringing partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains over Batanes and Babuyan Islands.
Metro Manila and the rest of the country will likely have cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers due to localized thunderstorms. Residents in these areas were warned of possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms, particularly in the afternoon or evening. (Ellalyn V. Ruiz)
