‘Egay’ moving away from PHL, may make landfall in HK

source: gmanews

After bringing rains to parts of Luzon including Metro Manila, Tropical Depression Egay is moving away from Philippine territory and may make landfall in Hong Kong or China, state weather forecasters said Monday.

But the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Egay will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon to bring rains over Luzon, even as another potential cyclone is due to enter the Philippines Tuesday.

"Hindi siya nag-landfall sa atin (pero) nagpaulan nang husto ang habagat na in-enhance niya. Patuloy pa niyang hinihikayat kaya ang southwest monsoon patuloy pa ring magbibigay ng ulan sa Western Luzon at Visayas, kabilang na riyan ang Metro Manila," PAGASA forecaster Elvie Enriquez said in an interview on dzBB radio.

(‘Egay’ did not make landfall on the Philippines but it dumped so much rain by enhancing the southwest monsoon. It will continue to enhance the monsoon and bring rains to western parts of Luzon and Visayas, including Metro Manila.)

"Maaring ito ay mag-landfall sa parteng Hong Kong o China (‘Egay’ may eventually make landfall in Hong Kong or China)," she added.


She said that as of 4 a.m. Monday, Egay was 160 km northwest of Aparri or 130 km west of Basco, Batanes, packing winds of 55 kph near the center and moving west-northwest at 20 kph.

PAGASA’s 5 a.m. advisory indicated Egay will be 370 km northwest of Aparri, Cagayan or 350 km west of Basco, Batanes by Monday afternoon.

Areas under Storm Signal No. 1 are Northern Cagayan, Calayan, Babuyan, Batanes, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte.

But Enriquez said Metro Manila will continue to experience rains although the downpour will be relatively scattered and not as heavy as Sunday.

Leaving PAR Monday night

PAGASA indicated on its Twitter account that Egay may leave Philippine territory by Monday night.

"Kung hindi magbabago ang pagkilos, lalabas na ito ng PAR, Lunes ng gabi (If its speed does not change, it is likely to leave the Philippine area of responsibility by Monday night)," it said.

However, it reminded residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under Signal No. 1 to be alert against possible flash floods and landslides.

Also, PAGASA said strong to gale force winds may affect the western seaboard of Luzon and the Visayas and the eastern seaboard of Luzon.

"Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," it said.

PAGASA’s 5 a.m. bulletin also said extreme northern Luzon will experience rains with gusty winds with moderate to rough seas.

"Western Luzon will have cloudy skies with scattered to widespread rainshowers and thunderstorms which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The rest of the country will be mostly cloudy with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms," it added.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over the rest of country with moderate to rough seas.

Potential cyclone

Meanwhile, Enriquez said PAGASA is monitoring the movement of a low-pressure area that she said may enter Philippine territory as early as Tuesday.

"Meron na naman tayong napipintong LPA na maaring pumasok bukas sa Philippine area of responsibility. Patuloy natin mino-monitor ang development nito, baka pumasok bukas (We are expecting the LPA to enter Philippine territory Tuesday. We are monitoring its movement)," she said.

She said the potential cyclone, to be codenamed "Falcon" once it enters the Philippines, will likely enter via the Eastern Mindanao area.

"Either mag-develop siya o hindi patuloy magbigay ng pagulan sa Eastern Mindanao (Whether it develops into a cyclone or not, it will bring more rains to Eastern Mindanao)," she added.

Dams

Meanwhile, PAGASA said gates at two dams in Benguet province in northern Luzon were opened to let out water.




In its 6 a.m. report, PAGASA said one gate was opened at Ambuklao while two gates were opened at Binga.

Ambuklao's water level as of 6 a.m. Monday was at 745 meters, seven meters below the normal high/spilling water level of 752 meters.

Binga's water level as of 6 a.m. Monday was at 565 meters, 10 meters below the normal high/spilling water level of 575 meters.

source: gmanews