Maring moves out; rains to continue

MANILA, Philippines - Metro Manila and nearby areas can expect gradual improvement in weather beginning today as Tropical Storm Maring moves away from the country, according to the state weather bureau.

Robert Sawi, weather division head of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said rains would continue over parts of Central Luzon, including Bataan and Zambales, until today.

By tomorrow, the southwest monsoon will still dump rains over Central Luzon and the Ilocos Region, including Pangasinan and La Union, as Maring exits Philippine territory. Sawi said they expect improved weather throughout the country by Friday.

Maring, the 13th tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the third weather disturbance this month, gained strength and picked up speed as it moved northward towards northern Taiwan before noon yesterday.

As of 4 p.m. Maring was spotted at 540 km east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of 120 kph.

It was forecast to move north at 19 kph.

Maring lingered off Batanes since Saturday after its path was blocked by another weather system north of it, further intensifying the southwest monsoon and prolonging the torrential rains.

While no public storm warning signals were raised, Maring may bring heavy to torrential rain within its 500-km radius, the weather bureau said.

PAGASA said the storm would still enhance the southwest monsoon, which will bring moderate to heavy rains and thunderstorms over Luzon and western Visayas. It is predicted to be 460 km northeast of Itbayat this morning; and 560 km northwest of Itbayat or outside the Philippine area of responsibility tomorrow morning.

PAGASA’s 5 p.m. forecast showed Maring may exit the Philippine area of responsibility this afternoon.