PAGASA: 'Kabayan' still affecting PHL by enhancing monsoon

It might have left the country last Friday, but typhoon “Kabayan" (Muifa) continues to affect the Philippines indirectly by enhancing the southwest monsoon and inducing rain on parts of the archipelago. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) also warned of flash floods and landslides in parts of Luzon, including Mindoro. “Bagama’t sa labas na ng Philippine area of responsibility ang Kabayan, patuloy itong nakaka-enhance ng southwest monsoon na magdadala ng ulan lalo sa kanlurang bahagi ng ating bansa," PAGASA forecaster Joel Jesusa said in an interview on dzBB radio on Saturday. He said Metro Manila can expect cloudy weather conditions, with rains and thunderstorms. On the other hand, Jesusa said “Dahil sa impluwensya ng southwest monsoon, may mga pag-ulan sa kanlurang bahagi ng Southern Luzon na maaring magdulot ng pagbaha at pagguho ng lupa." He also noted that southwest monsoon is at its strongest in August. PAGASA’s 5 a.m. bulletin said the southwest monsoon is affecting Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. “The Western section of the country will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rains over the Western sections of Southern Luzon and Visayas which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to at times cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms," it said. — LBG, GMA News