Typhoon Dolphin, another LPA being monitored

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is monitoring Typhoon Dolphin outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) as the southwest monsoon, enhanced by a low-pressure area (LPA), continues to bring heavy rains across the country.

Based on the latest weather satellite image as of 4 p.m. yesterday, Dolphin was last located 2,095 kilometers east-northeast of extreme Northern Luzon, moving westward at 20 kilometers per hour.

The typhoon packs maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 190 kph.

There is no certainty that it will enter the PAR, given its current movement.

Tropical Depression Luis, meanwhile, dissipated yesterday after being downgraded.

At around 5:30 p.m. Monday, Luis made its first landfall over Maconacon, Isabela before weakening into an LPA at around 8 p.m. It had an unlikely chance of reforming into a tropical cyclone before it was reported to have dissipated at around 4 p.m. yesterday.

As Luis weakened, another LPA formed near it. Based on the latest weather satellite image, it was last located 180 kilometers west of Bacnotan, La Union.

The LPA, according to PAGASA, has a “high” chance of developing into a tropical cyclone within the next 24 hours.

Should either Typhoon Dolphin enter the PAR or the LPA develop into a tropical depression inside the PAR, it will be given the local name Maymay.

Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas and Occidental Mindoro will experience occasional rains due to the southwest monsoon.

Meanwhile, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley and the rest of Central Luzon will have cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms due to the LPA.

The rest of CALABARZON and MIMAROPA, Antique, Iloilo and Guimaras will also experience cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon, while the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to localized thunderstorms.

Road restrictions

The persistent rains from the different weather systems have affected major transportation routes in Northern Luzon.

In Baguio City and Benguet, torrential rains spawned by the enhanced southwest monsoon triggered landslides and rockfalls that disrupted travel across the Cordillera yesterday.

The most serious disruption was reported along Marcos Highway in Sitio Caucalan, Barangay Taloy Sur in Tuba, Benguet, where a landslide buried part of the highway, forcing authorities to reduce traffic to one lane.

As of yesterday, only the northbound lane toward Baguio City remains open, while the southbound lane heading to La Union has been temporarily closed to allow debris clearing and ensure motorists’ safety.

Intermittent rockfalls, soil erosion and overflowing drainage were also reported amid persistent rains along Kennon Road and Naguilian Road.

Motorists traveling along Halsema Highway were likewise advised yesterday to remain alert as saturated slopes increased the risk of landslides.

The Department of Public Works and Highways, police and local disaster officials urged motorists to avoid unnecessary travel, slow down when passing landslide-prone areas and strictly follow traffic advisories.

The rains also slightly raised the water level of Angat Dam, although it remained below its critical elevation.

Records from the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office showed that the water elevation of Angat Dam as of 2 p.m. yesterday reached 156.71 meters from 155.75 meters the previous day, an increase of 0.96 meter.

However, the level remained 3.29 meters below its critical elevation of 160 meters, 23.29 meters below its normal operating level of 180 meters and 55.29 meters below its rainy season normal high water level of 212 meters.

Flight disruptions

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, meanwhile, reported flight disruptions due to unfavorable weather conditions.

Cebu Pacific canceled Flight 5J 506 (Manila-Tuguegarao) and Flight 5J 507 (Tuguegarao-Manila).

Three other flights were diverted to Clark International Airport: Cebu Pacific Flight CEB860 (Zamboanga-Manila), which landed at 1:19 p.m.; GAP2814 (Davao-Manila), which landed at 1:23 p.m. and Cebu Pacific Flight CEB280 (Denpasar, Bali-Manila), which landed at 1:30 p.m. — Artemio Dumlao, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Rudy Santos, Cesar Ramirez, Jun Elias

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