MANILA — The southwest monsoon, locally known as “Habagat,” continues to bring cloudy skies and rain showers across much of the Philippines, even as Tropical Depression Igme has exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), according to the state weather bureau on Sunday (22 Sept 2024).

As of 3:00 AM, Igme was located 535 km north-northwest of Itbayat, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h and gusts up to 70 km/h. The system is moving westward at 15 km/h.

In its 4:00 AM bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecasted cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms for the Ilocos Region, Batanes, and the Babuyan Islands.

The Cordillera Administrative Region, the rest of Cagayan Valley, Metro Manila, and other parts of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms. PAGASA warned residents in affected areas of the risk of flash floods or landslides due to severe thunderstorms.

Strong winds and rough seas are expected in the western and northern parts of Northern Luzon, while the rest of Luzon will experience moderate to strong winds and moderate to rough seas. Light to moderate winds and seas will prevail for the remainder of the archipelago.

Sunrise occurred at 5:45 AM, with sunset expected at 5:52 PM.

ia/mnm