(Eagle News) — Tropical Storm “Inday” has slightly intensified as it moved east northeastward over the Philippine Sea, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said on Thursday, July 19.
In its 11 a.m. advisory, PAGASA said as of 10 a.m., the center of “Inday” was spotted 935 km east of Basco, Batanes.
“Inday” is packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kilometers per hour, PAGASA said.
It said the tropical storm was moving east northeast at 20 kilometers per hour, and is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon, which will bring intermittent moderate to heavy monsoon rains over Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Zambales and Bataan, and scattered light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon until Saturday.
“Residents of these areas, especially those living in low-lying and mountainous areas are advised to take appropriate actions against possible flooding and landslide, coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and continue monitoring for updates,” PAGASA said.
PAGASA said sea travel, on the other hand, “remains risky over the eastern seaboard of northern Luzon and the seaboard of Central Luzon due to rough to very rough seas associated with the southwest monsoon and tropical storm.”