Tropical storm 'Karding' slows down off Batanes

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm Karding has slowed down slightly and is now moving northwest at only 10 kilometers per hour (kph), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) yesterday said.               

At 3 p.m. yesterday, the center of Karding was estimated based on all available data at 1,160 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes. It packs maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

Though Karding is not expected to make landfall in any part of the country, PAGASA said the storm together with the low-pressure area it monitored earlier may enhance the southwest monsoon.

The low-pressure area was estimated at 950 kilometers west of Northern Luzon – still outside the Philippine area of responsibility – around 10 a.m. 

“This tropical storm and the aforementioned low-pressure area may enhance the southwest monsoon which will bring scattered to widespread moderate to heavy rains over Northern and Central Luzon, especially over the western section, beginning today,” PAGASA said.

Residents of these areas, especially those living near river channels, in low-lying areas and in mountainous areas are advised to take appropriate action against possible flooding and landslide, coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices and continue monitoring for updates.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon and Western Visayas will experience cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms because of the southwest monsoon.

Mindanao and the rest of the Visayas will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rains or thunderstorms also due to the southwest monsoon.

PAGASA also warned that sea travel remains risky over the western seaboard of Luzon.