Typhoon to spare MM but rain expected

MANILA, Philippines - Typhoon “Pablo” is not expected to directly hit Metro Manila, but residents can expect monsoon rains in the next two to three days, the state weather bureau reported yesterday.

Robert Sawi, weather division chief of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said light to moderate rains are likely to affect Metro Manila and Northern and Central Luzon until the weekend.

“It will bring rains in Metro Manila and Northern and Central Luzon while on its way out to the West Philippine Sea,” he said.

“Residents in these areas can also expect light to moderate wind, but it will not be that strong to topple billboards,” Sawi said in a phone interview.

Sawi said Pablo is likely to dissipate over the West Philippine Sea.

Based on PAGASA’s 24-hour weather forecast, Palawan, Western and Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Northern Mindanao will continue to experience stormy weather with rough to very rough seas.

Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Southern Leyte, and the rest of Mindanao will have rains with gusty winds and moderate to rough seas.

Central Luzon, the National Capital Region, Calabarzon, Bicol region, rest of Mimaropa and Eastern Visayas will be cloudy with light to moderate rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Cagayan Valley will have cloudy skies with light rains.

The rest of the Luzon will be partly cloudy with brief rainshowers. PAGASA said moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast would prevail over the rest of the country, with moderate to rough seas.

Pablo – the strongest typhoon to hit country so far this year – was predicted to be 450 kilometers west of Subic, Zambales by Thursday afternoon, and 660 km northwest of Iba, Zambales by Friday afternoon.