MANILA - Monsoon rains will persist over parts of Luzon as Tropical Depression Nimfa continues to move slowly, state weather bureau PAGASA said Wednesday.

The weather disturbance was spotted at 3 p.m. approximately 745 kilometers east northeast of Basco town, Batanes packing maximum winds of up to 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and 70 kph gusts.

Between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, monsoon rains will persist over Central Luzon, Pangasinan, Palawan at Mindoro.

Light to moderate rains with intermittent heavy rainshowers may also be experienced over Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon and Western Visayas.

A separate low pressure area, which was spotted along with Nimfa, was estimated near Sto. Tomas, La Union and may cross over central Luzon before eventually dissipating within the circulation of Nimfa, weather specialist Ana Clauren said.

Nimfa, which is not expected to make landfall, may exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Saturday.

Residents of the affected areas, especially those identified to be highly or very highly susceptible to floods and rain-induced landslides, are advised to take precautionary measures.

PAGASA said sea travel is risky, especially for small seacraft, over the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon due to potentially rough to very rough sea conditions.

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