‘Hanna’ accelerates over PH Sea, slightly enhancing habagat

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 30) — The southwest monsoon or habagat enhanced by tropical cyclones inside and outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) is currently bringing rains in Metro Manila and other parts of the country, the state weather bureau said Thursday afternoon.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) did not raise any tropical cyclone wind signal due to the continuous rainfall.

However, bad weather is forecast for the next three days as Severe Tropical Storm Hanna is seen to reach its peak intensity during the weekend.

While it is seen to intensify into a typhoon within 12 hours, Hanna is forecast to remain far from the Philippine landmass.

The storm was last spotted moving westward over the Philippine Sea, picking up speed at 15 kilometers per hour (kph) from its previous 10 kph movement.

It was last spotted 1,035 kilometers east of extreme northern Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 135 kph.

PAGASA said Hanna may gradually intensify and accelerate anew before leaving PAR on Saturday.

Aside from Hanna, Super Typhoon Saola (formerly Goring) and Tropical Storm Kirogi, both outside PAR, are also partially enhancing the habagat.

Monsoon rains are expected until Friday over Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Zambales, Bataan, Aurora, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and the northern portion of Eastern Visayas.

Meanwhile, Super Typhoon Saola (formerly Goring) left PAR Wednesday evening. Around the same time, Hanna entered the country's weather monitoring area, PAGASA said. said.

In Metro Manila, motorists braved half-tire deep floods in the main roads of Taft, España, and Tayuman. Water also reached gutter height along Araneta Avenue in Quezon City early Thursday morning.

Marikina river's water level also reached first alarm at 15.7 meters as of 10 a.m.

Aside from Metro Manila, PAGASA said the enhanced habagat will dump heavy rains over Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Zambales, Bataan, Aurora, Bulacan, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and the northern portion of Eastern Visayas today and tomorrow.

Goring aftermath

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said at least 305,481 people were affected by rains dumped by former Super Typhoon Goring, and it is checking reports of one person missing.

In its situation report on Thursday, the disaster council said 38,021 individuals were in evacuation centers while 3,559 were pre-emptively evacuated.

A total of 247 houses were damaged in affected areas while ₱41 million worth of damage to infrastructure was recorded.

No deaths or injuries have been recorded.