Habagat with Dante, Emong brings heavy rains, flooding in Luzon, Visayas

The Southwest Monsoon (Habagat), enhanced by Tropical Depression Dante and Severe Tropical Storm Emong, continues to affect parts of Luzon and other regions through Thursday, July 24, bringing heavy rains that have already caused flooding and traffic jams in Metro Manila.

PAGASA has issued its first-ever impact-based warning for Metro Manila due to the Tropical Depression Dante-enhanced southwest monsoon, forecasting high likelihood of significant impacts from July 22-24 with more than 200 millimeters of rain expected through Wednesday afternoon.

On Sunday, July 21, PAGASA Science Garden in Quezon City recorded 285.8 millimeters (mm) of rain, considered moderate to heavy by weather specialist Munir Baldomero, leading to a yellow warning for possible flooding.

Moderate to heavy rains (50-100 mm) may still be expected in areas like Metro Manila and Pangasinan from Thursday afternoon to Friday afternoon, while intense rainfall (over 200 mm) is forecast for Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Benguet, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro due to Severe Tropical Storm Emong.

PAGASA has also added several provinces in the Visayas—Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental—to its outlook for moderate to heavy rain earlier than previously predicted, along with additional areas like Cagayan, Kalinga, Apayao, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Marinduque, Romblon, Antique, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon.

The public is advised to stay indoors, monitor weather updates, avoid flooded areas, and report fallen trees or electric posts to mitigate potential impacts.