The Southwest Monsoon, locally known as Habagat, will keep bringing overcast skies and scattered rain showers to key areas across Luzon and the Visayas on Friday, August 28, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
PAGASA reported in its 5 a.m. bulletin that western Luzon will bear the brunt of the weather system, particularly affecting Metro Manila, the Ilocos Region, Bataan, Zambales, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Mindoro provinces.
Simultaneously, state meteorologists are tracking a low pressure area (LPA) situated approximately 720 kilometers east of Itbayat, Batanes. The system carries a moderate likelihood of intensifying into a tropical depression within 24 hours.
While it is projected to head toward Taiwan rather than make landfall in the country, it will be named “Pilandok” should it develop into a cyclone inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
As of early Friday morning, PAGASA placed Zambales, Batanes, Tarlac, Pampanga, and portions of Bulacan under an Orange Heavy Rainfall Warning, while Metro Manila, Nueva Ecija, and other parts of Bulacan were under a Yellow Heavy Rainfall Warning.
Weather officials advised residents to prepare for potential flash floods and landslides, noting that warnings are refreshed every three hours.
Cumulative rainfall between 100 to 200 millimeters is forecasted for Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, Benguet, and La Union. Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rainfall ranging from 50 to 100 millimeters is expected over Metro Manila, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Cavite, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Antique, and the remainder of Central Luzon.
The rest of the Visayas and Palawan will see cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms, whereas Mindanao will encounter isolated rain showers under partly cloudy conditions.
PAGASA expects monsoon-driven rains to persist through the weekend before tapering off by Sunday afternoon or Monday.
No gale warnings are currently active, though operators of small seacraft are urged to exercise caution due to potentially sudden, rough sea conditions during thunderstorms.