Rains still on but gale warning lifted

Typhoon Hanna left the country last night but thunderstorms will continue this week, said the Mactan office of the state weather bureau Pagasa.

Expect heavy rainfall due to the lingering effect of the habagat winds or southwest monsoon, said Alfredo Quiblat Jr., acting bureau chief.

He said the gale warning was  lifted over Central Visayas.

“It will be isolated rain shower especially in the evening. Let us not be complacent,”he said.

A gale warning remains in Panay Island where  rainfall was  estimated at 7.5 to 15 millimeters.

Quiblat said at least three typhoons  willl  enter the country this month but a  moderate El Niño dry spell is still in effect.

“Rainfall for the month of August will be 60 percent below normal. Let us conserve and recycle water,” Quiblat said.

Assessment

Pagasa’s record shows that August should have a normal average of rainfall of 148.4 millimeters of rain.

Trips of small vessels and motorbancas may  be cancelled or delayed if in their  assessment the weather is bad or unfavorable, said Coast Guard Central Visayas chief of staff Commander Weniel Azcuna.

Small vessels for Bohol and other parts of Central Visayas were finally allowed to sail yesterday.

But fast crafts headed to Ormoc City were still grounded since the gale warning remains over  Eastern Visayas .

The affected vessels were Oceanjet, St. Jhudiel of 2GO, and the MV Mika Mari 5 and motorboats Junmar 2 and Junmar 3. Passengers chose to reschedule their trips, Azcuna said.