Tropical Storm Dodong intensifies, enhances monsoon rains

Tropical Storm Dodong intensified on Saturday morning, July 15, as it was about to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

Dodong's maximum sustained winds were 65 km/h with gusts up to 80 km/h and it was expected to intensify outside PAR and become a typhoon by Monday, July 17.

The tropical storm was last spotted 305 kilometers west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur, moving slowly southeastward after exiting PAR on Saturday afternoon.

While no longer directly bringing rain to the Philippines, Dodong continues to enhance the southwest monsoon, causing moderate to heavy rain and gusty conditions in some areas of Luzon.

Monsoon rains will continue to affect areas in Ilocos Region, Mimaropa, Zambales and Bataan.

Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan and Western Visayas will still experience occasional rains.

As of Saturday morning, 19 families evacuated due to flooding in Bani, Bolinao, and Sual towns in Pangasinan.

Dodong was the Philippines' fourth tropical cyclone for 2023 and the first for July.