MANILA, Philippines — The weekend could turn into a soaking mess for millions of Filipinos.
The Southwest Monsoon, or Habagat, is set to unleash another round of rains across large parts of Luzon and the Visayas on Saturday, with PAGASA warning that heavier downpours could trigger flash floods and landslides in vulnerable areas.
Residents of Occidental Mindoro, Zambales and Bataan may get the worst of the monsoon weather, with persistent rains expected to pound these provinces within the next 24 hours.
But they are far from the only areas in the firing line.
Metro Manila, together with the Ilocos Region, Abra, Benguet, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro and Antique, is forecast to experience occasional rains as Habagat continues to dominate the country’s weather.
For commuters, motorists and weekend travelers, that could mean another day of slick roads, sudden downpours, poor visibility and possible flooding in low-lying areas.
RAIN THREAT SPREADS
Cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms are also expected over the Zamboanga Peninsula, the rest of Luzon, the rest of the Visayas, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur.
Meanwhile, another weather system is lurking in the north.
The trough of Tropical Cyclone Dolphin is expected to affect Batanes and the Babuyan Islands, adding more unstable weather to the already rain-soaked forecast.
The rest of Mindanao is expected to experience localized thunderstorms, which may develop quickly and bring intense bursts of rain.
FLOOD AND LANDSLIDE WARNING
PAGASA warned that moderate to heavy rains and severe thunderstorms could cause flash floods and landslides, particularly in communities with saturated soil, poor drainage or locations near rivers and steep slopes.
Residents in flood-prone areas are urged to remain alert, especially during sudden heavy downpours that could cause water levels to rise rapidly.
ROUGH SEAS AHEAD
The weather threat is not limited to land.
Extreme Northern Luzon may experience strong to gale-force winds, producing rough to very rough seas that could make travel dangerous for small vessels.
Moderate to strong winds and moderate to rough coastal waters are also expected over much of the rest of the country.
In Metro Manila, the sun rose at 5:41 a.m. and is expected to set at 6:23 p.m.
But with Habagat refusing to loosen its grip, Filipinos may see far more gray skies than sunshine this Saturday.
Bottom line: keep the umbrella ready, watch flood-prone roads, and think twice before heading out to sea.