Pilandok maintains strength; monsoon rain in 3 areas due to ‘habagat’

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Depression Pilandok maintained its strength on Monday afternoon, August 31, while monsoon rain has eased in some areas, with Ilocos Region, Abra, and Benguet bearing the brunt due to the enhanced southwest monsoon.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 5 pm bulletin Monday that Pilandok was located 1,145 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon, moving north northwestward at 10 kilometers per hour with winds of 55 km/h and gustiness of up to 70 km/h.

Two tropical depressions outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) are enhancing the southwest monsoon.

Tropical Depression Saudel (formerly referred to as Obet), located 1,075 km west of extreme Northern Luzon, has winds of 45 km/h and gustiness of up to 75 km/h. PAGASA Weather Specialist Charmagne Varilla said Saudel could still reenter PAR and redevelop into a tropical storm, but it has a low likelihood of making landfall.

The other tropical depression, located 570 km west northwest of Itbayat, Batanes, has winds of 45 km/h and gustiness of up to 60 km/h. According to Varilla, this tropical depression could eventually be absorbed into Saudel’s circulation, or it could have a “looping track” along the northwestern part, enter PAR, then make landfall in Taiwan.

In either scenario, this tropical depression won’t have a direct effect on the country, but it will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rain to parts of Luzon and the western section of Visayas.

Another low pressure area being monitored outside PAR has a “medium” chance of developing into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours. It could enter PAR but is less likely to make landfall and will not affect the country.

Meanwhile, Tropical Depression Pilandok may become almost stationary over the Philippine Sea east of extreme Northern Luzon for the next 36 hours before moving generally north northwestward. It is still less likely to make landfall and will remain far from the Philippine landmass.

Pilandok may intensify into a tropical storm by Tuesday, September 1, before it leaves PAR and moves toward southern Japan.

The enhanced southwest monsoon is bringing monsoon rain to Ilocos Region, Abra, and Benguet, and occasional rain to the rest of Cordillera Administrative Region, Batanes, Nueva Vizcaya, Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac, Pampanga, and Nueva Ecija.

It is also causing scattered rain and thunderstorms in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, the rest of Cagayan Valley, the rest of Central Luzon, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Aklan, and Antique, and isolated rain showers or thunderstorms in the rest of Luzon, Negros Island Region, and the rest of Western Visayas.

Below is PAGASA’s latest heavy rainfall outlook for the next three days:

Monday afternoon, August 31, to Tuesday afternoon, September 1:

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 millimeters): Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra, and Benguet
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan, Batanes, Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Zambales, and Bataan

Tuesday afternoon, September 1, to Wednesday afternoon, September 2:

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra, Benguet, and Zambales
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Tarlac, Pampanga, and Bataan

Wednesday afternoon, September 2, to Thursday afternoon, September 3:

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

These areas should watch out for flash floods and landslides.

The enhanced southwest monsoon is also bringing strong to gale-force gusts over the following areas, especially in coastal and upland areas exposed to winds:

Monday, August 31:

• most of the country

Tuesday, September 1, until Wednesday, September 2:

• most of Luzon and Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Dinagat Islands, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental

Moderate to very rough seas will also persist in the following areas:

Up to very rough seas (travel is risky for all vessels)

• Western seaboards of Babuyan Islands and Ilocos Norte — waves up to 4.5 meters high

Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea)

• Seaboards of Batanes and northern Ilocos Sur; the northern seaboard of Babuyan Islands — waves up to 4 meters high
• Seaboards of northern La Union and Zambales; the western seaboards of Pangasinan and Bataan; the remaining seaboard of Ilocos Sur — waves up to 3.5 meters high
• Western seaboards of Cavite, Batangas, Lubang Islands, northern Occidental Mindoro, and Calamian Islands; the southern seaboard of Bataan; the northern and western seaboards of Kalayaan Islands — waves up to 3 meters high

Up to moderate seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible)

• Western seaboard of northern Palawan; the eastern seaboard of Davao Oriental; the remaining seaboards of Babuyan Islands and Kalayaan Islands; the remaining western seaboard of Occidental Mindoro — waves up to 2.5 meters high
• Seaboards of Isabela, Romblon, Cuyo Islands, Antique, Surigao del Sur, and Davao Occidental; the western seaboards of Burias Island and Negros Occidental; the southern seaboards of Marinduque and Quezon; the remaining western seaboard of mainland Palawan; the remaining seaboards of Davao Oriental, La Union, and Pangasinan — waves up to 2 meters high

– Rappler.com