Heavy rains seen this week

MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos were warned yesterday against flashfloods and landslides as an enhanced Typhoon Henry is expected to bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains in many parts of the country, including Metro Manila this week.

Jun Galang, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather forecaster, said Metro Manila will have moderate to occasionally heavy rains by tomorrow afternoon until Thursday.

Rains will be experienced over southern and central Luzon by Wednesday or Thursday, he added.

PAGASA said moderate to occasionally heavy rain showers and thunderstorms might trigger flashfloods and landslides in Mimaropa, Bicol and the Visayas today.

Calabarzon will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

Galang said the southwest monsoon started dumping rains over southern Mindanao and parts of the Visayas yesterday.

The rains will continue in the next few days, he added. Moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms will persist over Eastern Visayas, Bicol, Dinagat Island, Siargao island and Surigao del Norte until today, he said.

Galang said Henry (international name Matmo) was not expected to make landfall based on current forecast.

However, residents of extreme northern Luzon might experience strong winds tomorrow as Henry passes near Batanes on its way to Taiwan, he said.

PAGASA said coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough.

PAGASA advised fishermen and operators of small sea craft against going out to the eastern seaboard of Bicol, Visayas and Mindanao due to big waves.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of Henry was spotted at 500 kilometers east of Legazpi City with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

Henry was expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning, Galang said. -With Raymund Catindig