The enhanced southwest monsoon, or habagat, is expected to continue bringing rains to several parts of Luzon through the middle of the week, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
PAGASA weather specialist Charmagne Varilla said Sunday, August 9, that a tropical storm currently outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) could further intensify the southwest monsoon in the coming days.
As of Sunday, Tropical Storm Peilou was located about 2,200 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon. It had maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near its center and gusts reaching 85 kph, while moving east-southeastward at 25 kph.
“Mababa ang tsansa nito pumasok sa PAR at makaapekto sa anumang bahagi ng bansa,” Varilla said.
Despite its low likelihood of entering PAR, Peilou could still strengthen the habagat by drawing the monsoon toward the country.
“Maaaring sa mga susunod na araw ito ang hihila sa habagat na siyang patuloy na makakaapekto sa Luzon at Visayas,” Varilla said.
Another tropical cyclone, Typhoon Dolphin, was also being monitored outside PAR. It was forecast to make landfall in China on Sunday after contributing to the strengthening of the habagat in recent days.
For Sunday afternoon through Monday afternoon, August 10, PAGASA warned of intense to torrential rainfall exceeding 200 millimeters in Benguet.
Ilocos Sur, La Union, Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite and Occidental Mindoro could receive heavy to intense rainfall ranging from 100 to 200 mm.
Moderate to heavy rainfall of 50 to 100 mm was also forecast in Ilocos Norte, Abra, Pangasinan, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Batangas, Laguna, Oriental Mindoro and Antique.
From Monday afternoon until Tuesday afternoon, August 11, rainfall totals of 100 to 200 mm are expected in La Union, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan and Occidental Mindoro.
Another 50 to 100 mm of rain may fall over Ilocos Sur, Abra, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro and Antique during the same period.
For Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday afternoon, August 12, Zambales, Bataan and Occidental Mindoro could receive between 100 and 200 mm of rain.
Meanwhile, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, Benguet, Tarlac, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Cavite and Batangas may see rainfall totals of 50 to 100 mm.
PAGASA cautioned that the forecast rainfall could trigger flooding and rain-induced landslides, particularly in communities that have already received substantial amounts of rain.