The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced Wednesday that tropical cyclones ‘Dante’ and ‘Emong’ have intensified the southwest monsoon, bringing stronger winds and heavier rains in affected areas, including Metro Manila.
In a weather bulletin released at 11:00 a.m. on July 23, PAGASA raised a ‘red’ rainfall warning across the provinces of Zambales, Bataan and Occidental Mindoro, indicating heavy downpour that may result in widespread incidents of severe flooding.
Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union, and Benguet—areas that are reeling from incessant ‘habagat’ rains over the last three days—have been placed under ‘orange’ rainfall alert.
Other affected areas are listed in the ‘yellow’ rainfall zones, where localized flooding are possible, including selected provinces in the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Quezon Province, Bicol, Oriental Mindoro and the rest of Mimaropa, as well as Antique and Iloilo.
As of 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, forecasters monitored tropical storm ‘Dante’ at 845 kilometers east-northeast of extreme Northern Luzon. It was moving north-northwest at 25 km per hour (kph) packing winds at 65 kph with gustiness of up to 80 kph.
‘Emong’ also developed into a tropical storm and was tracked 120 km west of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. It was moving southwest at 20 kph with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
PAGASA earlier reported that ‘Emong’ is forecast to keep moving southwest before looping over the West Philippine Sea on Thursday (July 24) due to its interaction with ‘Dante.’ It is projected to land over the Ilocos Region, Babuyan Islands and Batanes.
The state weather bureau is also closely monitoring the third low pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippines estimated at 2,230 km east of southeastern Luzon, which may also develop into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated.
