Tropical Storm Pilandok officially left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) before dawn on Thursday, September 3, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
During a 5 a.m. public forecast, PAGASA weather specialist Leanne Loreto reported that the weather system exited the PAR at around 4:30 a.m. As of 4 a.m., the center of Pilandok was tracked 1,030 kilometers east-northeast of Extreme Northern Luzon. The storm maintained maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near its center, with gusts up to 90 kph, while traveling northwest at a speed of 20 kph.
“Less likely na papasok ito sa PAR ulit at hindi na rin makakaapekto sa panahon,” Loreto stated.
Weather forecasters indicated that Pilandok is expected to trace a looping path near Japan’s Ryukyu Islands, including Okinawa and Amami, between Friday and Saturday due to an adjacent high-pressure ridge.
Simultaneously, Tropical Storm Saudel (formerly known locally as Obet) was logged 460 kilometers northwest of Itbayat, Batanes. Packing winds of 75 kph and gusts up to 90 kph, Saudel moved north-northeast at 15 kph toward an anticipated landfall over Guangdong, China, without posing a threat of re-entry.
A separate low-pressure area (LPA) monitored over the Philippine Sea east of Central Luzon has also weakened in its potential to turn into a tropical depression within 24 hours.
Despite none of the three offshore weather systems having a direct landfall impact, their combined interaction continues to pull and enhance the southwest monsoon (Habagat) across the country.
PAGASA cautioned that moderate to heavy rainfall will persist along the western section of Luzon on Thursday, shifting toward Central Luzon, western Southern Luzon, and Panay over the weekend. Up to 100 millimeters of rainfall is projected for Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro.
Rain concentration will intensify down to Cavite and Batangas by Friday, with localized accumulation reaching up to 200 millimeters in southwestern Luzon on Saturday.
Strong monsoon gusts are expected to persist until Sunday across most of Luzon, Visayas, and northern to eastern sections of Mindanao.
Authorities advise residents in flood- and landslide-prone areas to remain vigilant against hazards from prolonged heavy precipitation.