Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Tropical Storm Kabayan, with the international name Mujigae, is forecast to bring 50 milliliters of rain in the area of Angat Dam within 24 hours, but this won’t be enough to replenish the reservoir’s water supply, a state weather forecaster said on Friday (October 2).
“It will not replenish the water supply because the expected add up level is up to two meters high. So it’s not yet sufficient to solve our water supply,” Aldczar Aurelio, weather forecaster of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said.
Since last month, water concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water carried out water interruptions affecting Metro Manila, Rizal, and Cavite due to the strong El Niño prevailing in the country.
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PAGASA said the current dry spell could be among the four strongest episodes of El Niño since 1950 — and would likely surpass the strength of the dry spell that lasted from 1997 to 1998.
According to PAGASA simulations, a large part of the country would suffer from reduced rainfall until May next year.
TS Kabayan out of PH by midnight
Kabayan is expected to bring moderate to heavy rainfall within its 300 km diameter. In particular, moderate to occasionally heavy rains and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced over the provinces of Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac, and Pangasinan.
The tropical storm has exited landmass and currently moves at 22 kph in a west northwest direction towards the West Philippine Sea.
At 10 a.m., its eye was spotted at 70 km northwest of Dagupan City, Pangasinan, PAGASA reported in its 11 a.m. severe weather bulletin. Kabayan is expected to be outside the Philippine area of responsibility by midnight on Saturday (October 3).
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Half of the personnel of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s (NDRRMC) Operations Center are on standby with the agency on blue alert. Regional offices in Central Luzon and Cordillera, on the other hand, hoisted a red alert status placing all personnel on standby.
PAGASA also warned against sea travel over the seaboards of northern Luzon.
A total of 604 passengers, one vessel, and 11 motorized bancas are stranded in the ports of Metro Manila, Bicol, and north eastern Luzon, as of 8 a.m., according to the Philippine Coast Guard.
With Kabayan packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gustiness of up to 80 kph, PAGASA raised storm signals in areas in Luzon.
Signal No. 2 was up in La Union and Pangasinan, while Benguet, Tarlac, Ilocos Sur, and Zambales were placed under Signal No. 1.
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Aldczar said that at least five tropical cyclones can be expected in the country before the year ends.
CNN Philippines’ Gerg Cahiles and Kristine de Guzman and string correspondents Justine Dizon and JM Agreda contributed to this report.
