Rainy weather is expected to continue over MIMAROPA through the weekend as Typhoon Dolphin, still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), strengthens the southwest monsoon or habagat, DOST-PAGASA said Thursday.
DOST-PAGASA Weather Specialist Leanne Loreto said MIMAROPA, Metro Manila, Calabarzon and Antique may experience intermittent rains and scattered thunderstorms on August 6 due to the habagat.
“So expect po natin magiging maulan pa rin po dito sa Metro Manila, Calabarzon, maging sa Mimaropa, and sa may Antique,” Loreto said in PAGASA’s 5:30 a.m. weather update.
Loreto said Tropical Storm Maymay, internationally named Kujira, made landfall over Magsingal, Ilocos Sur, at around 2 a.m. Thursday. Its center was later located near San Juan, Ilocos Sur.
Maymay weakened after landfall, with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 110 kph. It was moving eastward at 10 kph.
The storm is expected to weaken into a tropical depression Thursday morning as it crosses the mountainous areas of Northern Luzon. It could further weaken into a low-pressure area by Thursday afternoon or evening.
Despite Maymay’s expected weakening, PAGASA said rains may continue from Friday through the weekend because Dolphin will pull and strengthen the habagat over Luzon and the western sections of the Visayas.
“So expect po natin, kahit wala na pong Bagyong Maymay, ay patuloy po yung ating mga pagulan, bukas hanggang over the weekend, dito po sa Luzon and western section of Visayas, dahil po sa habagat na pinaigting o pinalakas nitong Bagyong Dolphin,” Loreto said.
Dolphin was located more than 1,450 kilometers east-northeast of Extreme Northern Luzon and was moving along the boundary of the PAR. PAGASA said it remained far from the country’s landmass.
Occidental Mindoro is forecast to receive 100 to 200 millimeters of rain on Friday and Saturday, which may trigger flooding and landslides. Other parts of MIMAROPA, including Palawan, may experience cloudy skies, scattered rains, thunderstorms and gusty winds.
“Pero kahit ito lamang po yung hinighlight natin dito na mga lugar, ay maaari din po makaranas ng mga makulimlim na panahon, mga kalat-kalat na mga pagulan, pagkulog at pagkidlat, yung malaking bahagi din po ng Luzon, kabilang na nga po ang Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, and dito rin po sa may Metro Manila, Calabarzon, may Mimaropa, and some parts po ng Western Visayas,” Loreto said.
PAGASA advised the public to monitor weather and thunderstorm advisories, particularly in areas prone to flooding and landslides. Fisherfolk and operators of small vessels were also urged to exercise caution because moderate to rough seas may prevail outside areas covered by the gale warning.
