‘Carina’ moves out of PH area

Severe tropical storm ‘Carina’ (international name “Nida”) has already moved outside the country’s area of responsibility on Monday morning but continues to enhance the southwest monsoon or hanging habagat that may bring moderate to heavy monsoon rains over western Luzon.

Before noon of yesterday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) estimated the location of “Carina” at 330 kilometers (km)

northwest of Laoag City.

The storm slightly intensified as it drew strength from the West Philippine Sea, packing maximum sustained winds of 105 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 135 kph. It is forecast to move west-northwest at 24 kph.

PAGASA said “Carina” no longer has any direct effect on any part of the country prompting the agency to lift all tropical cyclone warnings in all areas earlier affected by the storm. Landslides Tropical depression “Carina” triggered sporadic landslides that caused 13 million in damages in Catanduanes, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported. PAGASA had raised storm signal number 1 over the provinces of Camarines Sur, Catanduanes and Sorsogon last Saturday.

The storm signal caused 3,000 passengers to be stranded in various ports not only in the Bicol region but also in Eastern Visayas. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Bicol also suspended the sailing of ferries, vessels, rolling cargoes, and motor bancas due to the tropical depression.

Today’s weather

The weather bureau warned residents of Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, and Bataan against moderate to heavy rains due to the storm-enhanced southwest monsoon that may trigger flash floods and landslides in these areas.

Today, Tuesday, cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms is expected over Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Western Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula, while partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of the country.

PAGASA advised the fisherfolk from setting sail into the seaboards of Northern Luzon, eastern seaboard of Central Luzon, and western and southern seaboards of Southern Luzon due to rough to very rough seas.