Chaba to enter Phl tomorrow

Tropical storm Chaba is expected to enter the Philippines tomorrow, but is unlikely to hit land, the state weather bureau said.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of Chaba was located at 2,170 kilometers east of Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 95 kph.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Chaba is forecast to move west at 20 kph.

It will be named Igme once it enters the Philippine area of responsibility.

PAGASA marine meteorological services section chief Rene Paciente said they don’t expect intense rains from Chaba due to the presence of another cyclone west of the country, which is likely to pull the rain- bearing southwest monsoon away.

Meanwhile, moderate to occasionally heavy rains and isolated thunderstorms are still expected over Metro Manila and the provinces of Bataan, Batangas, Bulacan, Pampanga, Rizal and Zambales in the next 24 hours due to the southwest monsoon.

Residents in these areas have been told to brace for flashfloods and landslides.

The low-pressure area was spotted at 330 km east of Tuguegarao City as of 4 p.m.

Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced over Western Visayas and the rest of Luzon, while partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of the country.