WEATHER UPDATE
Yellow rainfall alert raised over Metro Manila, several provinces
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has issued a yellow rainfall alert over Metro Manila and several provinces as of 8 a.m. Thursday, July 3. The alert signifies 7.5 mm to 15 mm of rain within one hour, expected to continue for the next two hours.
Affected areas under the yellow alert include Metro Manila, Bataan, Cavite, Rizal, Bulacan, Zambales, Pampanga, and portions of Batangas and Laguna. A yellow warning indicates that flooding is possible in low-lying areas and near river channels. Following the alert, several cities in Metro Manila have already announced class cancellations.
PAGASA attributes the continuous rainfall to the combined effects of the southwest monsoon and a low pressure area (LPA). Metro Manila, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, and Occidental Mindoro are forecast to experience 50-100 mm of rain throughout Thursday due to the southwest monsoon. Similarly, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, and Ilocos Norte will receive comparable amounts of rain due to the LPA.
As of 3 a.m. Thursday, the LPA was located 125 km east northeast of Aparri, Cagayan. It is projected to move northwestward towards Extreme Northern Luzon, and its potential for tropical cyclone formation within the next 24 hours remains at a medium level. If it develops into a tropical cyclone before exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by the weekend, it will be assigned the local name “Bising.”
The weather bureau warned that the LPA and the southwest monsoon could bring significant rainfall to Northern Luzon and the western sections of Central and Southern Luzon until Saturday. Heavy to intense rains are specifically forecast for Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro on Friday. The threats of flooding in flood-prone areas and landslides in mountainous terrains continue to persist.
