'Neneng' strengthens as habagat to dump heavy rain over Luzon
MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression Neneng slightly intensified as it moved northwestward over the sea east of Batanes, PAGASA said Wednesday morning.
In its 5 a.m. bulletin on Wednesday, August 19, the state weather bureau said Neneng was carrying maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center, with gusts of up to 70 kph.
The tropical depression is moving northwestward at 15 kph.
The center of Neneng was estimated at 675 kilometers east of Itbayat, Batanes, based on all available data.
Strong winds
There are currently no tropical cyclone wind signals in effect.
However, PAGASA said the enhanced southwest monsoon or habagat will bring strong to gale-force wind gusts over most parts of Luzon and Visayas, as well as the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao and Davao Region from Wednesday until Thursday.
These conditions may persist over most of Luzon, Panay Island, Negros Occidental, Northern Samar and Davao Oriental on Friday.
PAGASA said strong to gale-force gusts are particularly possible in coastal and upland areas exposed to the winds.
Heavy rainfall
PAGASA said the southwest monsoon or habagat will continue to bring heavy rainfall over parts of Luzon through Thursday.
Wednesday, August 19
Southwest monsoon or habagat
- 100-200 mm: Zambales, Bataan and Occidental Mindoro
- 50-100 mm: Metro Manila, La Union, Benguet, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal and Oriental Mindoro
Thursday, August 20
Southwest monsoon or habagat
- 50-100 mm: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales and Bataan
PAGASA said rainfall may be higher in mountainous and elevated areas. The impacts of the rainfall may also be worsened by significant antecedent rainfall, or rain that has already fallen in the affected areas.
Sea conditions
PAGASA said rough seas of up to 3.5 meters are expected over the seaboards of Zambales and the Lubang Islands, the western seaboards of the Babuyan Islands, Bataan and Pangasinan, and the northern seaboard of Ilocos Norte.
Rough seas of up to 3 meters are also forecast over the seaboards of Ilocos Sur and La Union, the remaining seaboards of the Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte and Pangasinan, the western seaboards of Batangas and Occidental Mindoro, the northern and western seaboards of the Calamian Islands and Kalayaan Islands, and the southern seaboard of Bataan.
Moderate seas of up to 2.5 meters are expected over the seaboard of Surigao del Sur, the western seaboards of Cavite and northern mainland Palawan, the eastern seaboard of Davao Oriental, and the remaining seaboards of Occidental Mindoro and the Kalayaan Islands.
Waves of up to 2 meters are also forecast over several coastal areas, including Isabela, northern Aurora, Romblon, Cuyo Islands, Cagayancillo Islands, Antique and Davao Occidental.
PAGASA advised operators of motorbancas and similarly sized vessels to take precautionary measures while venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigation under these conditions.
Track, intensity
PAGASA said Neneng is forecast to move generally west-northwestward and may make landfall over the eastern coast of Taiwan between Thursday afternoon, August 20, and Friday morning, August 21.
The tropical depression is expected to remain over the Philippine Sea throughout the forecast period.
Neneng is forecast to remain a tropical depression over the next 36 hours before weakening into a remnant low over or near Taiwan on Friday morning.
However, PAGASA said earlier weakening into a remnant low is not ruled out.
The weather bureau also said that heavy rainfall and severe winds may still be experienced in areas outside Neneng's forecast track and confidence cone.
PAGASA said the track of Neneng may still shift within the limits of the forecast confidence cone.
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