Tropical Depression Emong forms, joins Tropical Storm Dante in enhancing monsoon

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The newly formed Tropical Depression Emong is directly affecting areas in Northern Luzon. It is also enhancing the southwest monsoon, similar to Tropical Storm Dante (Francisco).

MANILA, Philippines – The low pressure area (LPA) inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) developed into a tropical depression at 8 am on Wednesday, July 23, and was given the local name Emong.

With Emong forming, there are now two tropical cyclones inside PAR — Dante being the other. Also at 8 am, Dante intensified from a tropical depression into a tropical storm, and was assigned the international name Francisco — a name contributed by the United States.

Both Dante and Emong are enhancing the southwest monsoon or habagat, the main source of rain for several days now.

Emong

Emong is directly affecting parts of the country — areas in Northern Luzon, in particular — as it is much closer to landmass.

The tropical depression was located 115 kilometers west northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, as of 10 am on Wednesday. It is moving west southwest at a relatively fast 35 kilometers per hour, with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h and gustiness of up to 55 km/h.

Emong is bringing moderate to heavy rain in the next 24 hours, but beyond that, rainfall could reach intense to torrential levels. Here is the initial rainfall outlook for the tropical storm, issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) at 11 am on Wednesday:

Wednesday noon, July 23, to Thursday noon, July 24

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 millimeters): Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Kalinga, Apayao

Thursday noon, July 24, to Friday noon, July 25

• Intense to torrential rain (above 200 mm): Pangasinan, La Union
• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Benguet
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao

Friday noon, July 25, to Saturday noon, July 26

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): La Union, Pangasinan
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Benguet

PAGASA also raised Signal No. 1 for the following areas, which means they will have strong winds due to Emong:

• Ilocos Norte
• western part of Ilocos Sur (Sinait, San Juan, Cabugao, Santo Domingo, Magsingal, Bantay, San Ildefonso, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, Vigan City, Caoayan, Santa, Narvacan, Santa Maria, San Esteban, Santiago, Candon City, Santa Lucia, Santa Cruz, Tagudin)
• northwestern part of La Union (San Fernando City, San Juan, Bacnotan, Luna, Balaoan, Bangar, Bauang)
• western part of Pangasinan (Dasol, Burgos, Agno, Bani, Bolinao, Alaminos City, Mabini, Anda)

The highest possible tropical cyclone wind signal due to Emong is Signal No. 2.

PAGASA expects Emong to follow a looping path over the West Philippine Sea on Thursday, July 24, due to its “interaction” with Dante.

Afterwards, it may speed up and head northeast, possibly passing close to the Ilocos Region, Babuyan Islands, and Batanes. The weather bureau is not ruling out landfall in one or more of these areas, “especially if there are eastward shifts” in Emong’s track.

PAGASA added that Emong might strengthen into a tropical storm on Thursday afternoon or evening, and “further intensification is possible” until Friday, July 25.

Dante

As for Dante, it now has maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h from the previous 55 km/h, while its gustiness is now up to 80 km/h from 70 km/h.

The tropical storm was located 900 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon as of 10 am, moving north northwest over the Philippine Sea at a slower pace of 15 km/h from 25 km/h.

Dante will stay far from Philippine landmass, as it is heading for Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and the East China Sea. It could already exit PAR on Thursday afternoon or evening.

Given Dante’s distance from land and movement, there are no rainfall warnings or tropical cyclone wind signals raised due to the tropical storm. But as mentioned, it is enhancing the southwest monsoon.

Enhanced southwest monsoon

PAGASA updated its rainfall outlook for the enhanced southwest monsoon at 11 am on Wednesday. Floods and landslides remain likely.

Wednesday noon, July 23, to Thursday noon, July 24

• Intense to torrential rain (above 200 mm): Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro
• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Pangasinan, La Union, Benguet, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Marinduque, Romblon, Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Antique, Iloilo

Thursday noon, July 24, to Friday noon, July 25

• Intense to torrential rain (above 200 mm): Zambales
• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Metro Manila, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Marinduque, Romblon

Friday noon, July 25, to Saturday noon, July 26

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Zambales
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan

The southwest monsoon is also bringing strong to gale-force gusts to these areas:

Wednesday, July 23

• Zambales, Bataan, Bulacan, Aurora, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Bicol, Mimaropa, Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin, Dinagat Islands, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental

Thursday, July 24

• Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Bicol, Mimaropa, Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental

Friday, July 25

• Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Bicol, Mimaropa, Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental

Due to the effects of the southwest monsoon, Malacañang suspended classes in all levels and government work for Wednesday in Metro Manila and 36 provinces.

Coastal conditions are still risky for small vessels in certain seaboards on Wednesday as well.

Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea)

• Western seaboards of Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Zambales, Bataan, and Lubang Island – waves up to 3.5 meters high
• Seaboards of Kalayaan Islands; northern seaboard of Ilocos Norte; western seaboards of Occidental Mindoro and Calamian Islands – waves up to 3 meters high

Up to moderate seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible)

• Remaining seaboards of Babuyan Islands, Batanes, and Ilocos Region; southern seaboard of Bataan; western seaboards of Cavite, Batangas, and Palawan – waves up to 2.5 meters high
• Seaboards of Camarines Norte, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, and Romblon; northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes and Northern Samar; eastern seaboards of Albay, Sorsogon, Surigao del Sur, and Davao Oriental; western seaboard of Masbate; southern seaboard of Quezon; remaining seaboards of Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, and Palawan; northern seaboard of Camarines Sur – waves up to 2 meters high

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In addition, PAGASA is still monitoring an LPA outside PAR, located 2,340 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas at 8 am on Wednesday.

The LPA now has a high chance of becoming a tropical depression within 24 hours. But the weather bureau said it appears unlikely to enter PAR. – Rappler.com