Southwest monsoon brings rain to Luzon and Visayas

The southwest monsoon, known locally as habagat, is bringing varying weather conditions across the Philippines. In Luzon, the monsoon is expected to cause rains in the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Batanes, Cagayan, Zambales, Bataan, and Pampanga. Residents in these areas have been advised to remain cautious of potential flooding and landslides.

Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon are forecasted to experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with afternoon thunderstorms. In contrast, the Visayas and Mindanao regions are expected to see generally fair weather, though thunderstorms remain possible. In the Visayas, specifically Negros Oriental, Siquijor, and Cebu, conditions may include scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms throughout the weekend due to the monsoon's influence.

Weather patterns in the Visayas and Mindanao are expected to persist until Monday, with the western portion of the Visayas potentially seeing rain by Tuesday or Wednesday. No gale warnings have been issued for the country's seaboards.