Tropical Depression Luis maintains strength; Dolphin weakens outside PAR

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Depression Luis maintained its strength on Sunday morning, August 2, while Dolphin, the tropical cyclone outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), was downgraded from a super typhoon to a typhoon. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 11 am bulletin on Sunday that Luis still has maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 70 km/h. As of 10 am, the tropical depression was located 400 kilometers east of Infanta, Quezon. It slightly accelerated, heading northwest at 15 km/h after moving at less than 10 km/h. Luis remains likely to stay over the Philippine Sea, but if its forecast track shifts westward, it could make landfall in Northern Luzon or Central Luzon, or go near these areas. Luis might also strengthen into a tropical storm on Sunday, but it may weaken back into a tropical depression on Monday, August 3, and into a remnant low by Wednesday, August 5. PAGASA updated its 48-hour rainfall outlook for Luis at 11 am on Sunday, now covering the following provinces in Luzon: Sunday noon, August 2, to Monday noon, August 3 Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 millimeters): Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Norte Monday noon, August 3, to Tuesday noon, August 4 Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Isabela, Quirino, Aurora, Pangasinan, Zambales, Tarlac, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas Aside from the provinces mentioned above, the rest of Cagayan Valley, the rest of Calabarzon, the rest of Bicol, Metro Manila, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Aklan, and Antique could also have scattered rain and thunderstorms due to Luis on Sunday. The rest of the country, not affected by the tropical depression, will have generally fair weather. In addition, the southwest monsoon or habagat is expected to start causing considerable rain on the western side of the country midway through the first week of August, as it will be enhanced by Typhoon Dolphin. As of 11 am on Sunday, PAGASA specified the following provinces that may be most affected by the southwest monsoon: Tuesday noon, August 4, to Wednesday noon, August 5 Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, Antique Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 remains raised in the following areas as of Sunday morning due to strong winds from Luis: Polillo Islands Camarines Norte northern part of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Presentacion, Garchitorena, Lagonoy, Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, San Jose, Tigaon, Calabanga) Catanduanes PAGASA is not ruling out the possibility of raising Signal No. 2 if Luis becomes a tropical storm. The southwest monsoon and Luis’ periphery or outer bands are also bringing strong to gale-force gusts to these areas: Sunday, August 2 Marinduque, southern part of Mindoro provinces, Romblon, mainland Masbate, Caluya Islands, Siquijor, Southern Leyte, Camiguin, Dinagat Islands Monday, August 3, and Tuesday, August 4 most of Luzon, most of Visayas, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental As for coastal waters, moderate to rough seas are expected in the following seaboards on Sunday: Northern seaboards of Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes; eastern seaboard of Davao Oriental – waves up to 2.5 meters high Seaboard of Isabela; eastern seaboards of mainland Cagayan, Catanduanes, and Davao Occidental; northern seaboard of Aurora – 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 the circulation of Typhoon Dolphin. Dolphin was located 3,235 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon as of 10 am on Sunday, still outside PAR and moving west northwest at 25 km/h. Its maximum sustained winds decreased from 185 km/h to 175 km/h, while its gustiness eased from 230 km/h to 215 km/h. Whether or not Dolphin enters PAR, it is still expected to enhance the southwest monsoon during the coming week. If it enters PAR, even if it just briefly crosses the northeastern boundary, it would be given the local name Maymay. 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