Tropical Depression Domeng to enhance southwest monsoon

What’s the weather like in your area? Report the situation through Rappler’s Agos or tweet us at @rapplerdotcom.

MANILA, Philippines – Heavy rain is expected to continue as Tropical Depression Domeng maintained its strength on Thursday evening, June 7, while moving generally upward instead of towards land.

In a bulletin issued 11 pm on Thursday, state weather bureau PAGASA said Domeng is now 460 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora, moving north at 15 kilometers per hour (km/h). Due to its direction, it is not expected to make landfall in any part of the Philippines.

Domeng continues to have maximum winds of 55 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 65 km/h. There is still a chance that it could intensify into a tropical storm, though this might happen once it is already nearing the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) boundary, or outside of it.

There are no areas under tropical cyclone warning signals, but Domeng will enhance the southwest monsoon or hanging habagat.

Domeng, combined with the monsoon trough, will bring moderate to heavy rain to the regions of Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, and Western Visayas, as well as scattered rainshowers to the rest of Luzon and the rest of the Visayas within the next 24 hours. Residents of these areas should watch out for possible flash floods and landslides.

Due to the southwest monsoon, monsoon rains are also expected in the western parts of Luzon – including Metro Manila – and of the Visayas, beginning Friday, June 8. Floods are possible in low-lying areas up until the weekend.

Mindanao will only have isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms with “no significant impact.”

Due to Domeng, sea travel is also risky in the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and the Visayas, as well as the western seaboard of Southern Luzon.

Based on its latest forecast track, Domeng is expected to leave PAR on Sunday, June 10.

PAGASA had said that it expects to declare the start of the rainy season this week.

For the onset of the rainy season to be declared, the requirement is 5 straight days of rain generating a total amount of at least 25 millimeters (mm) of rainfall. These 5 days must also include 3 straight days of at least 1 mm of rainfall. (READ: FAST FACTS: Tropical cyclones, rainfall advisories)

– Rappler.com