PAGASA records 50-mm rain per hour; code red raised

MANILA, Philippines - Torrential rainfall, near Typhoon Ondoy's rain volume, poured into already flooded araes in Metro Manila on Wednesday afternoon, prompting the state weather bureau's issuance of a code red rainfall alert.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued the red warning signal at 4:30 p.m.

The weather bureau said that torrential rainfall as heavy as 50 millimeters per hour hit the cities of Quezon, Manila and Marikina between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

The amount of rainfall recorded in the past hour was nearer Ondoy's rainfall volume of 56 millimeter per hour.

PAGASA added in its latest rainfall warning that heavy to intense rainfall (15 millimeter to 30 millimeter per hour) were observed over Pasig, Taguig and Pasay cities and the Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) area.

Moderate to heavy rainfall were also observed in other parts of Metro Manila, it added.

PAGASA said that heavy to torrential rains will continue for the next two hours or until 6:30 p.m.

"Due to the effect of the series of thunderstorms embedded in the Southwest Monsoon, expect Heavy to Intense (15.0-30.0mm/hr) rains with occasional Torrential (more than 30.0mm/hr) rains within 2 hours," it said.

It said floods and landslides is possible in risk areas.