PAGASA: ‘Karding’ to trigger rains

Tropical depression ‘Karding’ has slightly intensified while almost stationary over the Pacific Ocean Wednesday morning.

According to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather specialist Chris Perez, ‘Karding’ is not expected to make landfall but will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon or ‘habagat ‘that will bring monsoon rains over most parts of the country until weekend.

As of mid-day yesterday, ‘Karding’ was estimated at 1,220 kilometers (km) east of Basco, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

Meanwhile, the low pressure area (LPA) west of the country has already left the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday.

Cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms will prevail over Metro Manila, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Aurora, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Masbate, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros Occidental.

Mindanao and the rest of Visayas will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rains or thunderstorms due to the ‘habagat’.

Residents living near river channels, in low-lying areas, and mountainous areas, were advised to take appropriate actions against possible flooding and landslide.

Perez also warned that sea travel remains risky over the western seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon, especially over the coasts of Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Occidental Mindoro and Palawan.