Enhanced 'habagat' to bring rain showers across most of PH
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Wednesday, July 12 that the southwest monsoon, strengthened by a low-pressure area (LPA), could bring rain showers and thunderstorms across most of the country in the next 24 hours.
PAGASA last spotted the LPA 180 kilometers (km) northeast of Virac, Catanduanes or 400 km east of Infanta, Quezon around 3 p.m. on Wednesday.
Weather specialist Ana Clauren-Jorda said PAGASA has not yet ruled out the possibility that the LPA could turn into a tropical depression in the coming days.
It may become the country’s fourth tropical cyclone in 2023, and it will be known locally as “Dodong.”
As early as Wednesday, PAGASA is expecting scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the combined effects of the LPA and southwest monsoon, locally known as “habagat,” over Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Albay, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Masbate, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Cagayan Valley may also experience scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the LPA.
PAGASA warned of flash floods or landslides due to some moderate to intermittent heavy rainfall in areas affected by these weather systems.
Meanwhile, the remaining parts of Luzon will continue to experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening.
However, the occurrence of severe thunderstorms may also result in flooding or landslides, particularly in areas prone to these hazards.