Summer ends as storm enters Philippines

Tropical storm Mawar intensified Saturday as it continued to move towards the Philippines. Mawar — locally named Ambo — is the first weather disturbance to enter the southeast Asian country. “The observed weather patterns this past few days signal the onset of the Southwest Monsoon Season,” the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in a bulletin. Mawar entered the country’s territory on Friday afternoon and intensified as it went deeper over the northeastern portion of the main island of Luzon bringing rains and strong winds. Rains triggered a landslide in San Roque village in Antipolo City, east of Metro Manila, that damaged two houses and injured one person. The coast guard has launched a search and rescue mission for fishing boat with a crew of 30 which was reported missing off Catanduanes province on Friday afternoon. Heavy rains According to the state weather bureau, Mawar was packing centre winds of 85km/h at the centre with gustiness of some 100km/h. The storm is forecast to bring some 15 to 25mm of rainfall per hour, which is categorised as “heavy.” The storm was moving at a speed of 13km/h in a northeastern direction. Storm signal number 1 — the lowest in the four stage alert — had been declared over the provinces of Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Polillo island in the Bicol region as well as northeastern provinces of Aurora, Isabela, Cagayan together with the Babuyan ang Batanes Group of Islands in the north. “Fishing boats and other small seacrafts (sic) are advised not to venture out into the seaboards of Southern Luzon and Visayas and the eastern seaboard of Northern and Central Luzon due to the combined effect of Tropical Storm “Ambo” and the Southwest Monsoon,” the weather bureau said. Several flights to Camarines Norte have also been cancelled. While the storm is not expected to make landfall, strong rains are expected across the country in the next few days as the storm will affect the southwest monsoon. The weather is expected to improve by Monday as Mawar totally exits the country. The Philippines is located in a path where destructive typhoons often pass. Ramos said that just like in past storm episodes, the Philippines is aiming for zero casualties.