Tropical Storm Carina Enhances Southwest Monsoon, Affects Western Luzon

MANILA — Tropical Depression Carina has escalated to a tropical storm and is forecasted to intensify the southwest monsoon, known locally as “habagat,” affecting various parts of Western Luzon, according to the latest update from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

According to Philippines News Agency, as of early Sunday morning, Tropical Storm Carina was located 490 km east of Casiguran, Aurora, exhibiting maximum sustained winds of 75 km per hour and gusts up to 90 km per hour. The storm is moving west-northwest at a speed of 10 km per hour and is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Thursday. Meanwhile, Tropical Depression Butchoy has left PAR, last noted at 905 km west of Iba, Zambales. While active, Carina will continue to enhance the habagat, bringing significant rainfall to the region over the next three days.

PAGASA forecasts that the enhanced monsoon will bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms to areas such as Antique, Occidental Mindoro, Zambales, Bataan, Pangasinan, La Union, and Northern Palawan, including the Cuyo, Calamian, and Kalayaan Islands. Other areas like Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and the rest of Visayas and Mimaropa will experience fair weather with chances of isolated rain showers or thunderstorms. The weather agency also predicts moderate to strong winds and rough seas for the Visayas, Mindanao, and the western sections of Luzon, while the rest of Luzon will experience lighter winds and moderately rough coastal waters.