Habagat enhanced by tropical depression to bring rains

RAMB/US NOAA/Himawari 8 

MANILA — A tropical depression outside the Philippine area of responsibility continued to enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat while moving slowly over the West Philippine Sea on Wednesday.

It was spotted 610 km west of Iba, Zambales at 3 a.m, with winds of 55 kilometers per hour and up to 70 kph gusts. It was moving east southeastward slowly.

On Wednesday, the following areas are expected to experience rains. 

• • Heavy to intense rains: Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro
• • Moderate to heavy rains: Metro Manila, Pangasinan, Cavite, Batangas, Palawan, most of Bicol, Antique, Eastern Visayas

Fewer areas may experience moderate to heavy rains in the coming days, where flooding and landslides remain a threat. 

• • Thursday: Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro
• • Friday: Batanes

Meanwhile, a low pressure area may form from a cloud cluster east of Luzon in the next two days, weather forecaster Benison Estareja said.