MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is on high alert as the southwest monsoon, locally known as habagat, continues to drench large parts of the country, while two low pressure areas (LPAs) within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) threaten to develop into tropical depressions within the next 24 hours, the state weather bureau reported Tuesday.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 4 a.m. bulletin that one LPA, located 1,140 kilometers east of Central Luzon as of 3 a.m., has a high likelihood of intensifying into a tropical cyclone. A second LPA, tracked 340 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan, has a moderate chance of becoming a cyclone.
The intensified habagat is expected to bring heavy rainfall across Metro Manila, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Laguna, and Quezon. Monsoon rains are also forecast for Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, and Occidental Mindoro, while occasional rains are expected in Benguet, Tarlac, Marinduque, and Oriental Mindoro.
PAGASA warned that moderate to heavy rains in these areas could trigger flash floods or landslides, urging residents to remain vigilant. Scattered rains and thunderstorms are also expected across the Visayas, the rest of Luzon, Zamboanga Peninsula, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Soccsksargen, and Davao Region, driven by the monsoon and the trough of the LPAs. The Cagayan Valley is also likely to experience scattered rains and thunderstorms due to the LPA’s trough.
In Mindanao, isolated rain showers or thunderstorms are forecast for areas outside the monsoon’s primary impact zones.
Coastal conditions are expected to worsen, with moderate to strong winds and rough seas forecast for the western section of Luzon. Moderate winds and seas are anticipated across the rest of Luzon and the Visayas, while light to moderate winds and slight to moderate seas will prevail elsewhere.
PAGASA advised residents in low-lying and mountainous areas to prepare for potential flooding and landslides, as the combination of monsoon rains and possible cyclone development could exacerbate conditions. Local authorities are closely monitoring the situation, with emergency response teams on standby.
