Tropical Depression Maymay weakened into a low-pressure area (LPA) on Friday, Aug. 7, although the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat) will continue to bring rains over large parts of Luzon and Western Visayas until the weekend, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

PAGASA weather specialist Obet Badrina said the LPA was last located 565 kilometers east of Echague, Isabela.

“Malaki ang posibilidad na malusaw ito at maging bahagi na lamang ng trough o extension ng typhoon na nasa labas ng Philippine Area of Responsibility (There is a high possibility that it will dissipate and simply become part of the trough or extension of the typhoon outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility),” Badrina said.

The typhoon with the international name “Dolphin” was located 1,095 kilometers northeast of extreme Northern Luzon as of 3 a.m., packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 170 kph.

It was moving westward at 20 kph and is not expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

Badrina said Dolphin will continue to strengthen the southwest monsoon while moving toward mainland China, where it may make landfall by Sunday, Aug. 9.

“Inaasahan natin na mapapanatili nito ang lakas ng hanging habagat na siyang magdadala pa rin ng maulang panahon hanggang weekend (We expect Typhoon Dolphin to maintain the strength of the southwest monsoon, which will continue to bring rainy weather through the weekend),” Badrina said.

He also reminded the public to expect continued rains, particularly over most of Luzon and the western section of the Visayas.

PAGASA said only Batanes and the Babuyan Islands will experience scattered rains and thunderstorms due to Dolphin's trough.

Over the next 24 hours, moderate to at times intense monsoon rains may affect Occidental Mindoro.

Occasional moderate to heavy monsoon rains are also expected over Metro Manila, Pangasinan, La Union, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, and Antique.

The rest of Luzon and Western Visayas will have scattered moderate to heavy rains due to the southwest monsoon, while the rest of the country can expect generally fair weather with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

PAGASA warned that persistent monsoon rains could trigger flooding and landslides, particularly in areas experiencing moderate to heavy rainfall.