Three tropical depressions on PAGASA’s monitoring; southwest monsoon to still batter Luzon

Three tropical depressions are being monitored within and outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), as the southwest monsoon brings intense rains over Luzon, according to the state weather bureau on Wednesday.

The lone storm within PAR, Tropical Depression Neneng, was located 675 kilometers east of Itbayat, Batanes, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 5:00 a.m. press briefing.

It has maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 70 kph.

PAGASA said Neneng is not expected to cause any direct effects in the country as it is projected to move toward and make landfall in Taiwan by Friday.

Another tropical depression also developed outside PAR and was located 670 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan.

It is also not expected to have any direct effects on the country as it moves toward China.

The third tropical depression was located 3,090 kilometers east of northeastern Mindanao and is likely to enhance the southwest monsoon by next week, bringing rains to large parts of the country, PAGASA said.

“For our countrymen, always check the updates being released by PAGASA, especially regarding the development of these three tropical depressions,” Chenel Dominguez said in a press briefing in Filipino.

Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon will bring heavy to intense rains across numerous areas in Luzon and Visayas, with heavy rainfall warnings in effect.

According to PAGASA’s 5:00 a.m. weather advisory, intense rainfall, or 100 to 200 millimeters (mm) of rainfall, is expected over Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro.

PAGASA warned of possible flooding in urbanized, low-lying, and near-river areas under these rainfall conditions.

Areas such as Metro Manila, La Union, Benguet, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, and Oriental Mindoro will experience heavy rains, or rainfall of 50 to 100 mm.

Under these rainfall conditions, localized flooding is likely, especially in urbanized, low-lying, and near-river areas.

PAGASA said that the rest of Luzon, Antique, and Aklan will be affected by thunderstorms also caused by the southwest monsoon, posing a risk of flooding and landslides. — Edg Adrian A. Eva