Dindo now a tropical storm; Habagat to bring rains over Batanes

The tropical depression Dindo has intensified into a tropical storm early Monday, PAGASA said. The Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) meanwhile will bring rains over Batanes and Babuyan Islands.

At 4 a.m., the center of Dindo was estimated to be located at 640 km northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 80 km/h, and central pressure of 1000 hPa.

Dindo is moving northeastward at 10 km/h.

From its center, strong to gale-force winds are extending outwards up to 320 km.

No Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS) were raised as the storm is not forecast to have a direct effect on the country.

"Dahil may kalayuan ang bagyong Dindo, wala tayong nakataas na tropical cyclone wind signal. Hindi rin inaasahan na magkakaroon ito ng direktang epekto sa saan mang bahagi ng ating bansa," PAGASA weather specialist Rhea Torres said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(Because Tropical Storm Dindo is far [from the landmass], no tropical cyclone wind signal was raised. We are not expecting that the storm will have a direct effect anywhere in the country.)

The seas will be moderate in Extreme Northern Luzon due to Dindo and the Southwest Monsoon.

"Mariners of motor bancas and similarly sized vessels are advised to take precautionary measures while venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions, especially if inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels," PAGASA said.

Dindo is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility within the next six hours, PAGASA said in its 5 a.m. tropical cyclone bulletin.

It will then move to the East China Sea heading either towards the Korean Peninsula or the coast of eastern China.

PAGASA said it will issue the next tropical cyclone bulletin at 11 a.m.

The Southwest Monsoon meanwhile will bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over Batanes and Babuyan Islands. Moderate to at times heavy rains may possibly result in flash floods or landslides.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country, meanwhile, may expect partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to localized thunderstorms. During severe thunderstorms, flash floods or landslides may result.

Coastal waters in other areas of the country will be slight to moderate.

Sunrise was at 5:43 a.m. while sunset will be at 6:16 p.m. —KG, GMA Integrated News