Rainy week ahead as habagat continues to affect PH
The southwest monsoon, or habagat, is expected to continue affecting parts of the Philippines this week, bringing periods of rain and thunderstorms over several areas, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
According to a weather advisory as of 5 p.m. on Aug. 17, heavy rains are expected in La Union, Benguet, Pangasinan, Zambales, and Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro until Tuesday. This means 100 to 200mm of rainfall is expected, and numerous flooding events are likely, especially in low-lying areas.
Metro Manila, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Tarlac, Ilocos Sur, and Rizal will also see heavy rains (50 to 100mm), which may bring flash floods or landslides, until Aug. 20 noon.
The same yellow heavy rainfall warning was hoisted over the Greater Manila Area on Aug. 10.
Several areas in Metro Manila, such as España in Manila, Chino Roces in Taguig, Buendia in Makati, and parts of Quezon City, have been flooded as the habagat continues to bring rains.
By 12 p.m. on Monday, Malcañang ordered alternative work and learning modes in NCR and 13 provinces amid the weather conditions.
Quezon City, Caloocan, Marikina, and Manila have also suspended face-to-face classes in public and private schools on Aug. 18.
By Thursday and Friday, Aug. 20 to 21, cloudy conditions are expected to persist over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon due to the southwest monsoon, with chances of scattered rains and thunderstorms. Visayas and Mindanao may meanwhile experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
Apart from the habagat, as of 8 a.m. on Monday, PAGASA has monitored a low pressure area inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility 1,140 kilometers east of Northern Luzon. There's a "medium" potential of it developing into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours.
PAGASA also issued general flood advisories for the National Capital Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and Bicol Region.
The habagat has brought heavy rains to the country since last week, after tropical cyclone Luis and tropical storm Maymay—both of which weakened into low pressure areas.
The Office of Civil Defense said on Aug. 16 that the combined effects of Luis, Maymay, and the habagat have left 24 people dead, 17 injured, and three missing. 1,410,800 families or 4,903,086 people have been affected.
