Manila: The prevailing southwest monsoon, locally known as 'habagat', will continue to bring heavy rains to parts of Luzon, as reported by the weather bureau on Wednesday afternoon.
According to Philippines News Agency, heavy rainfall is projected across regions including Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Benguet, Zambales, and Bataan, and this weather pattern is likely to persist until Thursday. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) indicated that strong to gale-force gusts will affect most of Luzon, the Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Dinagat Islands, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental.
A gale warning remains in effect over the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Pilandok, known internationally as Krovanh, has maintained its strength. It is currently packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center, with gustiness reaching up to 80 kph. At present, no wind signal has been raised over any part of the Philippines.
The current position of Pilandok is 1,085 km east-northeast of extreme Northern Luzon, moving west-northwestward at a speed of 15 kph. PAGASA forecasts that the storm will remain distant from any landmass and is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility early Thursday.
