Monsoon rains to prevail over Luzon, Visayas as 'Marce' moves away

MANILA, Philippines – Monsoon rains will continue to prevail over Luzon and the Visayas, particularly the western sections, until the weekend even as typhoon “Marce” (international name Sinlaku) maintained its strength and continued to move away from the country, the government weather bureau said yesterday.

Nathaniel Cruz, weather branch chief of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), said moderate to heavy rains would still prevail over the western sections of Luzon and Visayas until Saturday as Marce continues to enhance the southwest monsoon.

He said Marce changed its course yesterday from northeast to north-northwest towards Taiwan.

It was earlier predicted to hit southern Japan.

As of 4:45 p.m. yesterday, storm warning signal no. 2 remained hoisted over the Batanes group of islands.

Signal no. 1 was still up in Babuyan and Calayan group of islands while the public storm warning signal over northern Cagayan was lowered.

At 4 p.m. yesterday, Marce was located some 300 kilometers east-northeast of Basco, Batanes, packing winds of 175 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of 210 kph.

Because it moves slowly at seven kph, Marce is likely to remain inside the Philippine area of responsibility until Sunday, Cruz said.

Marce is expected to be at 360 kms northeast of Basco this afternoon; 450 kms north-northeast of Basco tomorrow afternoon and at 570 kms north of Basco, or 110 kms northeast of Taipei, Taiwan by Sunday afternoon.

Cruz continued to warn the public against flashfloods and landslides and big waves in the coastal areas of western Luzon and Visayas due to the surge of the southwest monsoon.

Marce was the 13th tropical cyclone to enter the Philippines this year and the first for this month.      – Helen Flores