Tropical Storm Maymay is expected to further lose strength as it traverses the mountainous terrain of Northern Luzon on Thursday, August 6, following its landfall over Magsingal, Ilocos Sur at 2 a.m. As of 7 a.m., the storm was centered over Bangued, Abra with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gusts up to 110 kph, moving eastward at 10 kph.
PAGASA reported that Maymay will likely downgrade to a tropical depression during the morning and diminish into a remnant low by Thursday afternoon or evening. The remnant low will then move southeastward until it merges into the larger circulation of Tropical Cyclone Dolphin.
By Friday, August 7, Maymay is expected to weaken into a low-pressure area, leaving the southwest monsoon (habagat) as the country’s primary weather driver.
“Asahan natin habang tumatawid sa mga bulubunduking lugar sa Northern Luzon ay mas hihina na itong bagyo,” Loreto said.
“Ngunit asahan pa rin po na may malalakas na hangin at malalakas na mga pag-ulan dulot nitong Bagyong Maymay sa Northern and Central Luzon ngayong araw,” she added.
“Maymay is forecast to continue weakening while moving further inland. It will weaken into a tropical depression likely this morning and may be downgraded into a remnant low this afternoon or evening,” the agency said.
“However, due to interaction with the rugged terrain, an earlier weakening is possible. The remnant low of Maymay will move generally southeastward until it merges into the larger circulation of Tropical Cyclone Dolphin,” it added.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 remains active over Ilocos Norte, northern and central portions of Ilocos Sur, western Apayao, Abra, and western/central sections of Kalinga and Mountain Province.
Signal No. 1 covers the rest of Ilocos Sur, La Union, northwestern Pangasinan, the remainder of Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, southern Babuyan Islands, mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, and northern/central Aurora.
Meanwhile, Tropical Cyclone Dolphin—located 1,450 km east-northeast of extreme Northern Luzon as of Thursday morning—will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon despite remaining far offshore.
“Dito naman sa Southern Luzon area, maging sa western section ng Visayas, inaasahan naman natin yung epekto ng habagat o yung southwest monsoon so expect po natin na magiging maulan pa rin sa Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Antique. Inaasahan natin ang mga panaka-nakang pag-ulan at kalat-kalat na mga pagkulog-pagkidlat ngayong araw,” Loreto said.
“Expect po natin kahit wala na ang Bagyong Maymay ay patuloy yung mga pag-ulan bukas hanggang over the weekend sa Luzon at western sections of Visayas dahil sa habagat na pinalakas nitong bagyong Dolphin,” Loreto added.
The rest of the country can expect generally fair weather with potential afternoon or evening localized thunderstorms.
PAGASA warned residents in affected areas to stay vigilant against flash floods and landslides due to saturated soil.