Cebu spared by ‘Kyapo’ but ‘habagat’ to bring rains

Local

CEBU may be spared by the effects of Tropical Depression Kiyapo but the habagat or southwest monsoon will continue to bring damp weather in the entire province, the state weather bureau said.

“Kiyapo won’t have any direct impact on Cebu. The rains here are caused by the habagat,” said Jhomer Eclarino, chief weather forecaster at the Mactan station of Pagasa (Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration).

Heavy rains due to the habagat have also prompted several areas in Cebu, particularly in the north, to suspend classes as safety precaution.

As of 1 p.m. on July 23, the towns of Santa Fe, Bantayan, Madridejos and Daanbantayan cancelled in-person classes because of intense habagat-induced rains there.

An earlier outlook from Pagasa-Mactan showed that Cebu will continue to experience rainy weather until Saturday, July 25.

Pagasa has hoisted Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 over 12 areas in Luzon due to Kiyapo’s presence.

The tropical depression was last spotted 950 kilometers east of Central Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kilometers per hour.

It is expected to further intensify into a tropical storm within the next few hours, according to Pagasa.(RBE)