Holiday travelers may need to alter their long weekend plans as the southwest monsoon, locally known as habagat, is expected to bring heavy rainfall across several parts of the country, particularly western Luzon.
In a weather update on Friday, August 28, PAGASA weather specialist Obet Badrina stated that significant downpours will affect Metro Manila, the Ilocos Region, Bataan, Zambales, portions of Calabarzon, Occidental Mindoro, and Oriental Mindoro.
The widespread rains are expected to continue through Saturday, August 29, and into Sunday, August 30, before gradually tapering off by late Sunday afternoon or Monday, August 31, which coincides with National Heroes Day.
“Partikular na sa Sabado at Linggo, inaasahan natin na magiging tuloy-tuloy ang mga malalakas na pag-ulan. Posibleng mabawasan po yan bandang hapon ng Linggo o Lunes na. Kaya sa mga kababayan natin na may activity this coming long weekend ay consider nating yung ineexpect na mga malalakas na pag-ulan lalong-lalo na sa western section nga ng western section ng Luzon,” Badrina advised.
While western Luzon faces heavy downpours, scattered rain showers and thunderstorms are forecasted for the rest of Luzon and the Visayas. Mindanao, meanwhile, will generally experience partly cloudy skies with isolated rains.
PAGASA noted that the monsoon is currently being enhanced by a low-pressure area (LPA 08i), which was spotted 720 kilometers east of Itbayat, Batanes, as of 3:00 AM Friday. Although the system could develop into a tropical cyclone over the weekend, weather authorities do not expect it to make landfall.
“Posible pa rin ito maging bagyo this coming weekend pero hindi na ito magkakaroon ng direktang epekto sa ating bansa. Hindi ito inaasahang maglandfall sa Pilipinas at ang magiging direksyon nitong low-pressure area na kung sakaling maging bagyo ay sa may bahagi naman ng Taiwan,” Badrina explained.
Should LPA 08i intensify into a tropical depression within the Philippine Area of Responsibility, it will be locally named “Pilandok.”
Looking ahead, PAGASA warned that another weather disturbance could form next week, potentially extending the influence of the southwest monsoon.
“Around August 27 to September 2, inaasahan na ang low-pressure area na ating minomonitor ay patungo sa bahagi ng Taiwan. Samantala, by next week posibleng may mabuo na panibagong low-pressure area at maaaring magpatuloy na magpalakas ng habagat hanggang next week,” Badrina added, emphasizing that the public should remain updated as long-range forecasts remain subject to change.