PAGASA: More rains until Friday

CEBU, Philippines - Metro Cebu will experience cloudy skies with rainshowers and thunderstorms today until Friday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA).

PAGASA-Mactan weather forecaster Alexander Padin, in an interview with The Freeman, said that Metro Cebu will also experience rains that may bring flooding especially in low-lying areas.

"Especially in Cebu City nga daghan na kaayo og mga development sa bukid, inig panahon sa uwan dali ra magbaha kay tungod na nga upaw na ang atong bukid. No more trees that can hold the water. So natural, ari gyud na padulong sa ubos," Padin said.

"Magbinantayon gihapon ang publiko kay bisan hinay ang uwan unya dugay, it can still create flooding in some areas," Padin added.

As of 5pm yesterday, tropical storm "Emong" was estimated at 470-kilometer east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. It continues to pack maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

"Emong", the fifth weather disturbance to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility this year is expected at 470 km east of Basco, Batanes this morning and will be out of the country tomorrow morning.

Meanwhile, PAGASA said that the Rainfall Warning System is in operational mode since its launching on June 20, 2012 but is still open for suggestions to improve it.

The initial color coding: yellow, green and red was used based on the color coding scheme of the Community-Based Flood Early Warning System under the United Nations Development Program project.

These colors are generally associated with awareness (yellow), preparedness (orange) and emergency (red).

Here in Cebu, Padin said that the weather station continues to monitor areas that will possibly experience flooding.

"So far, we have not issued any rainfall warnings. But our monitoring is continuous," Padin said. — (FREEMAN)