Storm, low-pressure area to enhance southwest monsoon

MANILA, Philippines - A tropical storm over the South China Sea and an active low-pressure area (LPA) northeast of Basco, Batanes would continue to enhance the southwest monsoon, bringing rains over most parts of Luzon until Sunday, the weather bureau said yesterday.

Senior weather forecaster Robert Sawi of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the storm (international code name “Linfa”) was located at 2 p.m. yesterday some 400 kilometers west of Northern Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph. It remained “quasi-stationary.”

Sawi said the active LPA, spotted 100 kilometers northeast of Batanes, might enter the Philippine area of responsibility in the next two days if it moves northeast or towards Taiwan. – Helen Flores