Tropical Depression Neneng to enhance habagat, bring more rain to parts of Luzon

Tropical Depression Neneng is expected to further enhance the southwest monsoon or Habagat, bringing more rain to parts of Luzon in the coming days.

As of 5 a.m. on Aug. 19, Neneng was located 675 kilometers east of Itbayat, Batanes, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. The tropical depression was moving northwestward at 15 kilometers per hour, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near its center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.

Despite its strengthening, Neneng is not expected to make landfall in the Philippines. PAGASA said no tropical cyclone wind signals are expected to be raised over the country because Neneng will remain far from the Philippine landmass.

Neneng is forecast to continue moving west-northwestward and may make landfall along the eastern coast of Taiwan between Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. The state weather bureau said it will likely remain a tropical depression for the next 36 hours before weakening into a remnant low over or near Taiwan.

However, its distance from the Philippines does not mean the country will be spared from its effects. Neneng is expected to strengthen the southwest monsoon, or habagat, which will continue to bring rain to western Luzon. 

On Wednesday, heavy monsoon rains (100 to 200mm) are expected over Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, and Oriental Mindoro. Numerous flooding events and landslides are still likely.

Metro Manila, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Benguet, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Laguna, Rizal, and Antique are also predicted to see a significant 50 to 100mm of rain, with localized flooding possible in low-lying areas.

PAGASA added that flooding and landslides are likely in areas that have been affected by the habagat since last week, as the land is already saturated. "Hindi na po nakakasipsip ng tubig," PAGASA weather specialist Chenel Dominguez explained.

The habagat will also bring cloudy skies with scattered rain and thunderstorms over the Negros Island Region and the rest of Luzon and Western Visayas. The rest of the Visayas may experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.