Weather: Early rain on NCR from monsoon, not cyclone

The rain that fell on parts of Metro Manila early Monday was not from a cyclone but from the southwest monsoon, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said. PAGASA forecaster Ben Oris also said flash floods and landslides may loom over parts of Central Luzon due to the monsoon. "Ang umiiral ngayon ang southwest monsoon. Ito ay over Luzon (What is prevailing over the Luzon is the southwest monsoon)," he said in an interview on dzBB radio. He said Tropical Storm Onyok (Roke), which re-entered Philippine territory last weekend, is gone and heading for Japan. There are no other tropical cyclones approaching the Philippines at this time, he added. "Wala tayong namataan na sama ng panahon (For now we do not detect any weather disturbance near Philippine territory)," he said. PAGASA's 5 a.m. bulletin indicated the southwest monsoon is prevailing over Luzon. It said the whole country will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy, with widespread rains over Central Luzon which may trigger flashfloods or landslides. PAGASA added that moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough. Gale warning Meanwhile, PAGASA said surge of southwesterly surface windflow has weakened. "Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are alerted against moderate to rough seas," it said. — RSJ, GMA News