MANILA, Philippines — The southwest monsoon or habagat will continue to bring widespread rains across western sections of Luzon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Ilocos Region, Zambales, Bataan and parts of Metro Manila can expect rains until midweek, with increased risks of flash floods and landslides in low-lying or mountainous regions.
Palawan and the rest of western Luzon also remain particularly vulnerable due to their exposure to monsoon-enhanced rainfall. Breaks in the downpour, often occurring during morning to early afternoon hours, are expected to be short-lived.
PAGASA forecasts that by Wednesday and Thursday, a slight easing is expected, although isolated thunderstorms will still be possible in parts of Luzon.
The southern portion of Luzon – including Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Palawan and some parts of Mimaropa – will continue to experience cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms throughout the forecast period.
Despite the cloudy and rainy conditions in Luzon, no gale warnings have been issued as of Sunday morning. However, seaboards in northern Luzon may still experience rough waters and strong winds, and small vessels are advised to take precautions.
Meanwhile, Visayas and Mindanao are expected to experience generally fair weather. Most areas in these regions will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies, with brief late afternoon or evening thunderstorms.
However, the heat index across the country continues to reach dangerous levels, especially in southern regions. Forecasts show Metro Manila peaking at 40 to 41 degrees Celsius, while areas such as Zamboanga del Norte and Surigao del Sur may experience heat indices as high as 44°C.