Heavy rainfall alert raised over western PHL but tropical depression not seen to intensify

Heavy rainfall warnings were raised in western parts of the country Wednesday as tropical depression Caloy enhanced the southwest monsoon, state weather bureau PAGASA reported.

Caloy, the third typhoon to enter the country this year, is not expected to intensify until it exits by Wednesday evening or Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in an advisory.

Fishermen, especially those using small boats, and other mariners were warned of rough seas over the seaboards of northern Luzon and the western seaboards of central and southern Luzon.

“The large overall circulation and disorganized structure of Caloy suggest a slow pace of intensification in the near term,” PAGASA said.

“It is forecast to remain a tropical depression in the next 48 hours, then slightly intensify and reach tropical storm category by Friday afternoon” as it moves towards southern China.

As of Wednesday 10 a.m., the center of tropical depression Caloy was located 375 kilometers (km) west of Iba, Zambales.

It was moving westward slowly or “almost stationary,” PAGASA said, with maximum sustained winds of 45 km per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 55 km/h.

Meanwhile, light to moderate rains are expected over Metro Manila on June 30, but a dry period is possible between 9 a.m. to 12 noon when President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos is scheduled to take his oath in the capital, according to PAGASA Weather Division head Juanito S. Galang.

“We see a window that the weather will be fair between 9 a.m. and 12 noon,” he said during a press briefing on Wednesday. — MSJ