Southwest monsoon bringing rain to parts of Luzon

MANILA, Philippines – The southwest monsoon or habagat is still affecting Luzon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in its 4 pm bulletin on Tuesday, August 25.

The southwest monsoon is bringing occasional rain to Zambales, scattered rain and thunderstorms to Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, the rest of Central Luzon, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, and Antique, and isolated rain showers or thunderstorms in the rest of Luzon and Western Visayas.

“Hindi naman ito considered pa as kasinglakas ng mga naging pag-ulan natin nitong mga nagdaang linggo dahil sa malakas na southwest monsoon,” PAGASA Weather Specialist Benison Estareja said on Tuesday afternoon.

(This is still not considered as heavy as the rain we experienced in the past weeks because of the southwest monsoon.)

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

Tuesday afternoon, August 25, to Wednesday afternoon, August 26

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 millimeters): Zambales

Wednesday afternoon, August 26, to Thursday afternoon, August 27

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, and Bataan

Thursday afternoon, August 27, to Friday afternoon, August 28

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

These areas should watch out for floods and landslides.

Meanwhile, both tropical cyclones being monitored outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) have further weakened.

Typhoon Saudel (formerly referred to as Obet) was 1,070 kilometers northeast of extreme Northern Luzon, with maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 170 km/h. PAGASA said Saudel is unlikely to reenter PAR.

Tropical Depression Atsani weakened into a low pressure area as of 2 pm Tuesday. It may enter PAR on Wednesday, but PAGASA said it is unlikely to redevelop into a tropical depression in the next 24 hours.

The state weather bureau said that by Friday, another low pressure area may enter PAR. It has a medium chance of developing into a tropical depression, after which it would be given the local name Pilandok. As of Tuesday, it still has a small chance of landfall, but it could enhance the southwest monsoon.

Another low pressure area is being monitored outside PAR, which could enter by next week. PAGASA said it has a small chance of developing into a tropical depression.

PAGASA previously estimated that up to four tropical cyclones may develop within or enter PAR in August. – Rappler.com