• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The southwest monsoon (habagat) that will be enhanced by Tropical Storm (TS) Carina and TS Prapiroon (formerly Butchoy) will bring strong to gale-force gusts over Western Visayas and neighboring areas until this afternoon July 22.
The DOST- Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, in its 5 p.m. bulletin July 21, said that “Carina” maintained its strength and is almost stationary, with its center estimated, based on all available data, at 365-kilometer east northeast of Casiguran, Aurora.
It has maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 115 km/h, and central pressure of 996 hPa. “The enhanced southwest monsoon will bring moderate to intense rainfall over various localities in the western portion of Luzon tomorrow through Tuesday,” the weather bulletin said.
Western Visayas and nearby areas will also have cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms due to southwest monsoon, although the rainfall advisories over Negros Occidental were terminated Sunday afternoon.
The hoisting of wind signal No. 1 over extreme Northern Luzon and northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan is not ruled out, possibly by tonight or tomorrow in anticipation of strong winds associated with “Carina”, the DOST-PAGASA added. | CGC
