Rains fell on parts of Metro Manila shortly before noon Friday, but state weather forecasters believe tropical storm Agaton, internationally known as Omais, could not have caused the showers. The rains caught many by surprise, even as the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) maintained that Agaton is too far to affect any part of the country. “This weather disturbance is still far to affect any part of the country,” Pagasa said in its 11 A.M. advisory. Pagasa's 11 A.M. bulletin said Agaton was 1,000 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan as of 10 A.M., with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near center and gustiness of up to 80 kph. It said Agaton was moving north-northeast at 11 kph and is expected to be 1,040 km east-northeast of Aparri, Cagayan by Saturday morning. By Sunday morning it is expected to be 1,230 km east northeast of Aparri, Cagayan or 1,160 km east northeast of Basco, Batanes. By Monday morning it is expected to be 1,360 km east-northeast of Basco, Batanes. No storm warning signals have been raised. Friday's rains were the second to hit Metropolitan Manila which, like many other parts of the country, has been suffering from intense heat over the past few months due to the El Nino weather phenomenon.
