Southwest monsoon affecting Luzon, Western Visayas; LPA inside PAR may strengthen

MANILA, Philippines – A new low pressure area (LPA), which entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday morning, August 27, has a “medium” chance of developing into a tropical depression.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said this LPA — the ninth LPA in August alone — was last located at 850 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon.

Once it develops into a tropical depression, it will be called the local name Pilandok.

“Hindi pa ganoong kalaki ang impluwensya [ng LPA] dahil hindi pa pronounced ‘yung paghila niya sa habagat. Ang main na nakakaapekto pa rin po sa atin ay itong hanging habagat,” PAGASA Weather Specialist John Manalo said during their 5 pm forecast on Thursday.

(The LPA does not have much influence yet because its pull on the southwest monsoon is not yet as pronounced. What’s mainly affecting us is still the southwest monsoon.)

The southwest monsoon or habagat is bringing occasional rain to Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro, and scattered rain and thunderstorms to Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Western Visayas, and Negros Island Region.

Below is PAGASA’s latest heavy rainfall outlook for the next three days due to the southwest monsoon:

Thursday evening, August 27, to Friday evening, August 28

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 millimeters): Ilocos Sur, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, and Occidental Mindoro

Friday evening, August 28, to Saturday evening, August 29

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): La Union, Benguet, Bataan, Zambales, and Occidental Mindoro
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Pangasinan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, and Antique

Saturday evening, August 29, to Sunday evening, August 30

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): La Union, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, Abra, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Oriental Mindoro, and Batangas

These areas should watch out for floods and landslides.

In Mindanao, meanwhile, PAGASA has issued heat index warnings, particularly in the regions of Zamboanga Peninsula and Caraga, where temperatures are hitting danger levels (42ºC-51ºC) in some areas. Manalo said the current El Niño “partly” has a role in these warmer conditions. – Rappler.com