Two low-pressure areas (LPAs) are being monitored, and both have a likelihood of developing into tropical cyclones, as the southwest monsoon continues to batter Luzon and Visayas, according to the state weather bureau on Tuesday.
The LPA inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) was spotted 1,115 kilometers East of Northern Luzon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 5:00 a.m. press briefing.
It has a high chance of developing into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours.
PAGASA is also monitoring a newly developed LPA outside PAR, located exactly 295 kilometers west-northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. It has a medium chance of developing into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours and is not expected to enter PAR as it will likely move away from the country’s landmass.
Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon that triggered widespread flooding in Metro Manila and nearby areas on Monday is expected to drench large parts of Luzon and Visayas, with heavy rainfall warnings being raised in several areas.
“Rains are more intense mostly along the western section of Luzon and Visayas, which includes Metro Manila,” Veronica C. Torres, weather specialist of PAGASA, said in the briefing in Filipino.
PAGASA said that areas of Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, and Batangas, and Occidental Mindoro are expected to experience heavy rains today, ranging between 100 to 200 millimeters (mm) of rain.
Under these conditions, numerous flooding events are likely, especially in urbanized, low-lying, and near-river areas.
Heavy rains, or 50 to 100 mm of rainfall, are expected over Metro Manila, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Laguna, Oriental Mindoro, and Antique.
PAGASA warned of possible localized flooding, especially in urbanized, low-lying, and near-river areas.
Similar areas are expected to experience heavy downpours until Thursday, PAGASA said.
The southwest monsoon, which triggered widespread flooding on Monday, poured 201.7 mm of rainfall in just five hours in Metro Manila, or an equivalent of 49,985 Olympic-size swimming pools, according to a Facebook post shared by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday.
The equivalent is nearly half the 455 mm poured by Tropical Cyclone Ondoy in Metro Manila in 24 hours in September 2009. — Edg Adrian A. Eva