Tropical Depression Luis Drenches Luzon, Path Uncertain

Tropical Depression Luis is no longer expected to intensify into a tropical storm, but it continued to drench much of Luzon while barely moving over the sea off Aurora before dawn on Monday, August 3. In a briefing past 5 am on Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Luis was last spotted 130 kilometers east southeast of Casiguran, Aurora, at 4 am — almost stationary there. The tropical depression still has maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 70 km/h. Eventually, it may be downgraded to a remnant low by Wednesday, August 5. PAGASA’s latest forecast shows Luis could make landfall in or pass close to Northern Luzon on Monday evening or early Tuesday morning, August 4. “Afterwards, it will sharply turn east northeastward while moving away from the Philippine landmass,” the weather bureau said, although it added that the tropical depression’s forecast track remains “highly uncertain” and can still change. Moderate to intense rain due to Luis is likely to continue in Luzon from Monday to Tuesday, with floods and landslides possible. The most affected areas include: Monday, August 3 Heavy to intense rain (100-200 millimeters): La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Benguet, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Kalinga, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Pampanga Tuesday, August 4 Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Ilocos Sur, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal The southwest monsoon or habagat will also start bringing significant rainfall on Tuesday, initially to Occidental Mindoro, then expanding to more areas on Wednesday. Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Occidental Mindoro Wednesday, August 5 Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Antique The southwest monsoon will be enhanced by the tropical cyclone with the international name Dolphin, which is currently a typhoon outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). Meanwhile, Luis is bringing strong winds to portions of Luzon. Here are the areas under Signal No. 1 as of 5 am on Monday: central and eastern parts of Cagayan (Enrile, Tuguegarao City, Peñablanca, Piat, Santo Niño, Camalaniugan, Tuao, Lal-lo, Gonzaga, Alcala, Amulung, Santa Teresita, Baggao, Buguey, Solana, Rizal, Santa Ana, Gattaran, Iguig, Lasam, Aparri, Ballesteros, Abulug, Allacapan, Pamplona) Isabela Quirino eastern and southern parts of Apayao (Flora, Santa Marcela, Conner, Pudtol, Luna) eastern part of Kalinga (Tabuk City, Tanudan, Pinukpuk, Rizal) eastern part of Mountain Province (Paracelis, Natonin) eastern part of Ifugao (Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista) northern part of Aurora (Dinalungan, Casiguran, Dilasag, Dipaculao, Baler) Polillo Islands northern part of Camarines Norte (Daet, Talisay, Paracale, Jose Panganiban, Capalonga, Vinzons) Signal No. 2 is no longer expected to be raised as Luis is likely to remain a tropical depression. The southwest monsoon and Luis’ periphery or outer bands are also bringing strong to gale-force gusts to these areas: Monday, August 3, and Tuesday, August 4 most of Luzon, most of Visayas, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Sarangani, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental most of Luzon, most of Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental For coastal waters, PAGASA reiterated that the following seaboards have moderate to rough conditions on Monday: Eastern seaboards of Isabela and Davao Oriental; northeastern seaboard of Aurora – waves up to 2.5 meters high Seaboards of Batanes; northern and eastern seaboards of Babuyan Islands; eastern seaboards of mainland Cagayan, Pangasinan, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Sur, and Davao Occidental; northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands, Catanduanes, and Northern Samar; northern seaboards of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur; southern seaboard of Davao Oriental – waves up to 2 meters high Small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible. After weakening into a remnant low by Wednesday, Luis could become “fully assimilated” or absorbed into Dolphin’s circulation. The typhoon was located 2,850 kilometers east northeast of extreme Northern Luzon as of 3 am on Monday, still moving west northwest at 25 km/h. Its maximum sustained winds further decreased from 165 km/h to 155 km/h, while its gustiness eased from 205 km/h to 190 km/h. PAGASA Weather Specialist Aldczar Aurelio said Dolphin only has a slim chance of entering PAR, but the weather bureau is not ruling out this possibility. What is more certain is that Dolphin will enhance the southwest monsoon. Luis is the Philippines’ 12th tropical cyclone for 2026, and the first for August. PAGASA earlier said two to four tropical cyclones could develop within or enter PAR during the month. – Rappler.com