More rain from LPA off La Union, potential for tropical depression

MANILA, Philippines – The low pressure area that used to be Tropical Depression Luis already dissipated at 2 pm on Tuesday, August 4, but the other LPA inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) now has a high chance of developing into a tropical depression within 24 hours. The remaining LPA was located 180 kilometers west of Bacnotan, La Union, as of 3 pm on Tuesday. It formed off La Union on Monday evening, August 3. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the LPA is bringing scattered rain and thunderstorms to the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon. These are the areas which may be most affected by rain from the LPA in the next 48 hours: Tuesday afternoon, August 4, to Wednesday afternoon, August 5 Heavy to intense rain (100-200 millimeters): La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Zambales Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Ilocos Sur, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan Wednesday afternoon, August 5, to Thursday afternoon, August 6 Heavy to intense rain (100-200 millimeters): Ilocos Sur, La Union, Benguet Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Pangasinan, Abra, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya Floods and landslides are possible. If the LPA becomes a tropical depression, it would be given the local name Maymay. It would be the Philippines’ 13th tropical cyclone for 2026, and the second for August, after Luis. PAGASA Weather Specialist Benison Estareja said the potential tropical cyclone may slowly move eastward towards the Ilocos Region. Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon or habagat continues to affect Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and portions of Western Visayas. Here is PAGASA’s latest three-day rainfall advisory for the southwest monsoon, issued at 5 pm on Tuesday: Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Occidental Mindoro Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Cavite, Batangas, Antique Thursday afternoon, August 6, to Friday afternoon, August 7 Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, Antique Affected areas must stay on alert for floods and landslides. Possibly starting Thursday, August 6, the southwest monsoon will be enhanced by the tropical cyclone with the international name Dolphin, which is still a typhoon outside PAR. Typhoon Dolphin was last spotted 2,095 kilometers east northeast of extreme Northern Luzon at 3 pm on Tuesday, moving west at 20 kilometers per hour (km/h). After a weakening trend, the typhoon slightly strengthened on Tuesday morning, with its maximum sustained winds increasing from 150 km/h to 155 km/h. Its gustiness is now up to 190 km/h from the previous 185 km/h. At its peak, Dolphin was a super typhoon. PAGASA said it is still not ruling out the possibility of Dolphin entering PAR. The typhoon is expected to stay far from the country’s landmass, but as mentioned, it will enhance the southwest monsoon. The weather bureau earlier said two to four tropical cyclones could develop within or enter PAR in August. – Rappler.com