Tropical storm Dante continues to move northwest, Habagat to bring rains over Metro Manila

Tropical Depression Dante has maintained its strength while moving northwest over the Philippine Sea, and has since intensified into a tropical storm.

The Southwest Monsoon, locally known as Habagat, is anticipated to continue bringing moderate to intense rains over Metro Manila and several other provinces.

As of Wednesday morning, Dante was located 880 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon with sustained winds of 55 kph and gusts of up to 70 kph.

Habagat is predicted to cause moderate to heavy, at times intense, rainfall in Metro Manila, Benguet, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Occidental Mindoro.

Occasional rains are also expected in other parts of MIMAROPA, La Union, Nueva Ecija, Quezon, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental.

While further intensification into a severe tropical storm is unlikely, it has not been completely ruled out by PAGASA.

Dante is tracking northwestward at 25 kph and is forecast to approach Itbayat, Batanes in the coming days.

No wind signal has been raised yet as Dante poses no immediate wind threat to the country in the coming hours.