The heavy rains that beset Metro Manila and many provinces on Thursday disrupted classes and stranded many commuters. The continuous downpour was caused by low-pressure areas and the intensified Southwest Monsoon or Habagat; it totally disrupted daily routines and worsened everyone flood concerns, particularly for people living in vulnerable areas.
Through the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), a weather advisory was issued at 11 a.m. Thursday containing warnings of wide-ranging rainfalls across Luzon to last through the weekend.
According to PAGASA, Cagayan is expected to be the first locality to be battered by the weather system, with an estimated rainfall of 100 to 200 millimeters to be measured during the period from Wednesday to Friday noon. Neighboring provinces such as Batanes, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, and Ilocos Norte are also expected to receive 50 to 100 mm during that period.
The Habagat adds to the woes as it is expected to dump between 100 and 200 mm of rainfall on Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro. This is besides the moderate rainfall levels expected from the remaining areas of Metro Manila, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Benguet, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, and Batangas ranging from 50 mm to 100 mm.
Encouraging vigilant actions, local disaster risk reduction offices are advising the residents in low-lying and flood-prone areas to keep monitoring advisories. Continuous rains are expected until Sunday, so there may be further class suspensions and traffic disruptions from time to time since the weather system is affecting Luzon.
