'Neneng' maintains strength as habagat threatens Luzon with heavy rain
MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression Neneng maintained its strength as it moved northwestward over the sea east of southern Taiwan, PAGASA said Wednesday morning.
In its 11 a.m. bulletin on Wednesday, August 19, the state weather bureau said Neneng was carrying peak winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center, with gusts of up to 70 kph.
It is moving northwestward at 30 kph.
The center of Neneng was spotted 530 kilometers east-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes.
Neneng is not directly affecting the country's land areas, but the southwest monsoon or habagat continues to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds over parts of the Philippines.
Strong winds
No tropical cyclone wind signals have been raised so far.
However, PAGASA said the southwest monsoon 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.
Wednesday, August 19 to Thursday noon, August 20
Southwest monsoon or habagat
- 100-200 mm: Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan and Occidental Mindoro
- 50-100 mm: Metro Manila, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra, Benguet, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal and Oriental Mindoro
Thursday noon to Friday noon, August 21
Southwest monsoon or habagat
- 50-100 mm: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales and Bataan
PAGASA said rainfall may be heavier in mountainous and elevated areas, while the effects could be aggravated by 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 Ilocos Norte, Zambales and the Lubang Islands, as well as the western seaboards of Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Pangasinan, Bataan and the Kalayaan Islands.
Rough seas of up to 3 meters are also forecast over the seaboards of Ilocos Sur and La Union, the remaining seaboards of Batanes and Pangasinan, the western seaboards of Batangas and Occidental Mindoro, the northern and western seaboards of the Calamian Islands, the southern seaboard of Bataan and the northern seaboard of the Kalayaan Islands.
Moderate seas of up to 2.5 meters are expected over the seaboards of mainland Cagayan and 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
The state weather bureau said Neneng is forecast to move generally west-northwestward and may pass close to or make landfall over the northern coast of Taiwan by Thursday afternoon or evening.
The tropical depression will remain over the Philippine Sea throughout the forecast period.
Neneng is expected 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 said that heavy rainfall and severe winds may still be experienced in localities outside Neneng's forecast track and confidence cone.
Neneng's track may still shift within the limits of the forecast confidence cone, according to PAGASA.
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