Habagat affecting Luzon; LPA nears Eastern Samar

MANILA, Philippines — The southwest monsoon or "Habagat" is affecting Luzon while a potential tropical cyclone hovers near Eastern Samar, the state weather bureau said Thursday.

In its daily weather forecast, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the provinces of Zambales, Bataan and Pangasinan will experience monsoon rains.

Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas and the rest of the Ilocos region, Cordillera Administrative Region and MIMAROPA will have occasional rains. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

PAGASA is also monitoring a low pressure area located at 800 kilometers east of Guiuan town.

If it develops into a tropical depression, it will be named "Inday," the ninth cyclone to hit the country this year.

The weather bureau said moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over northern and western Luzon and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

Elsewhere, light to moderate winds coming from the southwest with slight to moderate seas.