Cebu will continue to experience isolated rainshowers today as typhoon “Helen” enhanced the southwest monsoon winds affecting the region.
Romeo Aguirre, weather specialist of Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) Mactan, said the southwest monsoon winds will cause localized thunderstorms, which will bring light to moderate rains to Cebu.
According to Aguirre, landslides and floods can happen in areas where the rain is concentrated.
Flood is expected to happen if the amount of rainfall will reach 30 millimeters in less than an hour, he added.
Yesterday, rains were mostly concentrated in Metro Cebu. A thunderstorm warning was issued yesterday afternoon for Naga City, Minglanilla, Talisay City, portion of Cebu City, San Fernando, Carcar City, Cordova, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City and Consolacion.
The total amount of rainfall as of 6 p.m. yesterday was 146.8 millimeters, which was equivalent to 80 percent of the normal average of 178.2 millimeters for September.
Typhoon Helen, the fourth to enter the country just in September and the eight for this year, was heading for northern Luzon, or about 880 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan as of 5 p.m. yesterday.
Helen is packing a maximum sustained winds of up to 140 kilometers per hour (pkh), with gustiness of up to 175 kph, the Pagasa said.
Pagasa has hoisted storm signal number 1 over Batanes and Babuyan Group of Islands.
Aguirre said the weather condition is expected to improve by tomorrow until weekend. Typhoon Helen will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday, he said.