Tropical Storm Pilandok Weakens Amid Habagat Dominance Over Luzon, Visayas

Tropical Storm Pilandok has slightly decelerated while moving east-northeastward over the Philippine Sea, while the southwest monsoon, or habagat, will continue to prevail over Luzon and Visayas on Wednesday, according to the state weather bureau. In its 5 a.m. weather forecast, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that Pilandok was moving eastward at 20 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 17.5 meters per second (63 kph) and gustiness of up to 21.5 meters per second (77 kph). The storm’s winds slightly weakened compared to the previous day. Meanwhile, the habagat will continue to bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and strong winds over the western section of Luzon, western Visayas, and Palawan. Residents in low-lying areas are warned of possible flooding and landslides, while those in coastal areas should be vigilant against rough seas.