Merging storms to enhance monsoon

TD Nimfa (left) has a maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometer per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 70 kph.

A low pressure area (LPA) and tropical depression (TD) are forecast to merge within the next 48 hours and enhance the Southwest monsoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced on Wednesday.

The LPA was located in the vicinity of Mayantoc, Tarlac as of 10 a.m. while TD Nimfa remains almost stationary in the northern Philippine Sea, bringing light to heavy rains over some parts of the country, PAGASA weather specialist Loriedin de la Cruz said in a press briefing.

With its maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometer per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 70 kph, Nimfa may bring frequent light to moderate with occasional heavy rains on Wednesday and Thursday.

The areas expected to have rains are Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, Romblon, the northern portions of Palawan including Calamian and Cuyo Islands, Aklan, Antique, Iloilo and Guimaras.

Meanwhile, areas that may experience occasional light to moderate rains with intermittent heavy rain showers during thunderstorms are Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Apayao and the rest of Central Luzon and MIMAROPA.

The state weather bureau also said scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms may be experienced over the rest of Luzon and Western Visayas and residents in the affected areas, especially in flood and landslide prone locations, were advised to take precautionary measures and coordinate with local disaster risk reduction authorities.

PAGASA also warned that sea travel is risky especially for small seacraft over the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon due to potentially rough to very rough sea conditions.