'Neneng' slightly weakens as habagat continues to drench Luzon
MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression Neneng slightly weakened as it moved west-northwestward over the sea east of central Taiwan, PAGASA said Wednesday evening.
In its 5 p.m. bulletin on Wednesday, August 19, the state weather bureau said Neneng was carrying peak winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 55 kph.
It was moving west-northwestward at 35 kph.
The center of Neneng was located 375 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes.
Neneng is not directly affecting any land area in the Philippines, but its presence continues to enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat, which is bringing heavy rain and strong winds over parts of the country.
Strong winds
No tropical cyclone wind signals are currently raised.
PAGASA, however, said the southwest monsoon will bring strong to gale-force wind gusts over most of Luzon and Visayas, as well as the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao and Davao Region through Thursday.
Similar conditions may persist over most of Luzon, Panay Island, Negros Occidental, Northern Samar and Davao Oriental on Friday.
The strongest gusts are possible in coastal and upland areas that are directly exposed to the prevailing winds, PAGASA said.
Heavy rainfall
The southwest monsoon will also continue to dump heavy rain over several areas in Luzon.
Wednesday, August 19 to Thursday afternoon, August 20
Southwest monsoon or habagat
- 100-200 mm:Pangasinan, Zambales and Bataan
- 50-100 mm:Metro Manila, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra, Benguet, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal and Occidental Mindoro
Thursday afternoon to Friday afternoon, August 21
Southwest monsoon or habagat
- 50-100 mm:Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales and Bataan
PAGASA said rainfall could be heavier in mountainous and elevated areas, with the risk of flooding and other impacts potentially worsened by rain that has already fallen.
Sea conditions
Rough seas of up to 3.5 meters are expected along the seaboards of Ilocos Norte and Batanes.
Waves could reach up to 3 meters along the seaboards of Ilocos Sur, La Union, Zambales and the Lubang Islands, as well as the western seaboards of the Babuyan Islands, Pangasinan, Bataan, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro and Calamian Island, and the northern seaboard of the Kalayaan Islands.
Moderate seas with waves reaching up to 2.5 meters are expected along the seaboard of Isabela, 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 the seaboards of mainland Cagayan, northern Aurora, Romblon, Cuyo Islands, Cagayancillo Islands, Antique and Surigao del Sur, as well as several other coastal areas.
PAGASA advised operators of motorbancas and similarly sized vessels to take precautions when venturing out to sea and avoid sailing if possible while these conditions persist.
Track, intensity
Neneng is expected to continue moving generally west-northwestward and may pass close to or make landfall over northern Taiwan by Thursday evening or early Friday morning.
The tropical depression is forecast to remain over the Philippine Sea throughout the forecast period.
PAGASA expects Neneng to remain a tropical depression over the next 24 hours before weakening into a remnant low over or near Taiwan on Friday morning.
Earlier weakening of Neneng into a remnant low remains possible.
PAGASA also reminded the public that heavy rainfall and severe winds may still affect areas outside Neneng's forecast track and confidence cone.
The storm's track may likewise still shift within the limits of the forecast confidence cone, the state weather bureau said.
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