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PAGASA: LPA off Visayas intensifies into Tropical Depression Mina


A low-pressure area off Eastern Visayas intensified into a tropical depression early Monday, even as state weather forecasters warned it may enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rain in the next three to four days. Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration forecaster Elvie Enriquez said the tropical depression, codenamed "Mina," will likely stay for three to four days in Philippine territory. "Tinataya rin natin na maiibayo ni 'Mina' ang southwest monsoon at dudulot ng pag-ulan, ito ay malawakan sa Southern Luzon, Visayas at Mindanao. Sa Metro Manila rin magkaroon ng epekto sa pamamagitan ng paghatak ng southwest monsoon pero ang direct effect sa Southern Luzon, Visayas at Mindanao magkakaroon ng pagulan-ulan," Enriquez said in an interview on dzBB radio. (We expect 'Mina' to enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rain, especially over Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. It will affect Metro Manila by enhancing the southwest monsoon.)

Citing PAGASA's present models, Enriquez said Mina is not likely to make landfall and may head back towards the Pacific Ocean. She added Mina may stay in the Philippine area of responsibility for "three to four days." On the other hand, Department of Science and Technology Undersecretary Graciano Yumul Jr. noted Mina has changed direction at least twice. "Patungo siya ng silangan ng Southern Taiwan. Walang posibilidad mag-landfall pero mag-ingat ang kababayan natin, ang original track line papunta Southern Japan (pero) ngayon Southern Taiwan," Yumul said in an interview on dwIZ radio. (For now, our models show it is heading towards SoutherN Taiwan. There is no chance of landfall. But we must still be careful because it had changed course more than once. Initially it was heading towards Southern Japan but now it is heading towards Southern Taiwan.) Flash floods, landslides As of 4 a.m. Monday, PAGASA said Mina was estimated at 400 km east southeast of Virac, Catanduanes with maximum winds of 45 kph near the center. It forecast Mina to move northwest at 9 kph. "Southern Luzon and Visayas will experience cloudy skies with scattered to widespread rainshowers and thunderstorms which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. Mindanao and Central Luzon will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms," it said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. PAGASA said the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms while light to moderate winds blowing from the Northeast to East will prevail over northern and Central Luzon and coming from the southwest to west over the rest of the country. In Metro Manila, floods were noted along portions of Taft Avenue in Manila hours after a downpour hit parts of the metropolis. Gale warning Yumul said strong to gale-force winds may affect the western seaboards of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. Meanwhile, Yumul said more cyclones are due to enter Philippine territory after Mina. "Inaasahan natin magkakasunod-sunod yan (We expect more cyclones to enter Philippine territory after 'Mina')," he said. Rain over NCR As of early Monday, PAGASA's Twitter account noted rain over:
  • Caloocan, Tondo, Sampaloc, Sta. Cruz and Balintawak (Metro Manila), light to moderate
  • Quezon City, Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, light to moderate
  • Cainta, Marikina, Novaliches, light to moderate. — RSJ, GMA News
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