PAGASA: Rains expected in NCR, other parts of Luzon til Saturday

Typhoon Kabayan (Muifa) continued moving west northwest before noon Wednesday, even as the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Metro Manila and parts of Luzon can still expect rain until Saturday. "(Makakaasa tayo ng) ulan today hanggang Saturday. Maaring lumabas ng Philippine area of responsibility si 'Kabayan' (pero) ie-enhance pa niya ang southwest monsoon," PAGASA forecaster Raymond Ordinario said in an interview on dzBB radio. (We can expect rain until Saturday. Even if 'Kabayan' is to exit Philippine territory on Friday, it will still enhance the southwest monsoon.) In its 11 a.m. advisory, PAGASA said Kabayan maintained its strength and continues to move west northwest. As of 10 a.m., Kabayan was located 1,030 km east-northeast of Basco, Batanes, packing maximum winds of 165 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 200 kph. It was moving west northwest at 11 kph and is expected to be 840 km northeast of Basco, Batanes Thursday morning; and 670 km north northeast of Basco, Batanes or 100 km south-southwest of Okinawa, Japan Friday morning. "(Kabayan is) expected to enhance the southwest monsoon over Luzon which may trigger flashfloods and landslides," PAGASA said. It added the estimated rainfall amount is from 15 to 30 mm per hour within the 700-km diameter of Kabayan. Meanwhile, PAGASA said a low-pressure area off Ilocos was estimated at 70 km southwest of Sinait, Ilocos Sur. — RSJ, GMA News