Many areas across Luzon and the Visayas will continue to experience rains and strong winds caused by Tropical Storm “Emong” and the southwest monsoon, the weather bureau said yesterday.

As of 4:00 p.m., “Emong” was located over the coastal waters of Sabtang, Batanes.

It packs maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, and gustiness of up to 115 kph.

Gale-force winds will prevail in Batanes and Babuyan Islands, where Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 is hoisted.

Strong winds will be experienced in Ilocos Norte, Apayao and mainland Cagayan, which are under TCWS No. 1.

The southwest monsoon will likewise bring strong to gale-force gusts in Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, the Visayas, and Dinagat Islands.

Gale warning is in effect over the seaboard of Northern Luzon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Both “Emong” and the southwest monsoon will cause heavy rainfall over Cagayan, Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Metro Manila, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Bulacan, Rizal, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Marinduque, Romblon, Antique, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, and Occidental Mindoro.

“Emong” will continue to weaken and might exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday, Pagasa said. (PNA)