Pilandok maintains strength, enhances southwest monsoon

WEATHER. Tropical Depression Pilandok and southwest monsoon inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility as of August 30, 2026, 5:40 pm.

The enhanced southwest monsoon or habagat is bringing monsoon rain to Ilocos Region, Abra, Benguet, Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac, and Pampanga

AT A GLANCE

• Tropical Depression Pilandok is enhancing the southwest monsoon, bringing heavy rainfall to various areas in the Philippines.
• PAGASA forecasts Pilandok to move west northwestward and weaken into a remnant low by September 1, with a low likelihood of making landfall.
• The enhanced southwest monsoon is expected to cause strong gusts and rough seas in many areas, with warnings for small vessels to avoid venturing out to sea.

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MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Depression Pilandok maintained its strength on Sunday afternoon, August 30, and is enhancing the southwest monsoon or habagat.

In its 5 pm bulletin on Sunday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Pilandok was located 1,180 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon. It is moving northwestward slowly, with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 55 km/h.

PAGASA said Pilandok is seen to move west northwestward on Monday, August 31, before turning generally northwestward.

It is less likely to make landfall and is expected to be a short-lived tropical cyclone, remaining a tropical depression before weakening into a remnant low over the Philippine Sea south of the southern islands of Japan on Tuesday, September 1.

While it is not directly affecting the country, Pilandok is enhancing the southwest monsoon, which is bringing monsoon rain to Ilocos Region, Abra, Benguet, Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac, and Pampanga, and occasional rain to Metro Manila, the rest of Cordillera Administrative Region, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Occidental Mindoro.

It is also causing scattered rain and thunderstorms to the rest of Luzon, Western Visayas, and Negros Island Region, and isolated rain showers or thunderstorms to the rest of Visayas.

Below is PAGASA’s latest heavy rainfall outlook due to the southwest monsoon for the next three days:

Sunday afternoon, August 30, Monday afternoon, August 31:

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 millimeters): Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, La Union, Abra, Benguet, Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac, and Pampanga
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Metro Manila, Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Occidental Mindoro

Monday afternoon, August 31, to Tuesday afternoon, September 1:

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra, Benguet, Zambales, and Bataan
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Pangasinan, Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Batanes, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, and Cavite

Tuesday afternoon, September 1, to Wednesday afternoon, September 2:

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, and Benguet
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Batanes, Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao, Mountain Province, La Union, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales, and Bataan

These areas should watch out for flash floods and landslides.

The enhanced southwest monsoon is also bringing strong to gale-force gusts over the following areas, especially in coastal and upland areas exposed to winds:

Sunday, August 30:

• most of Luzon and Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Dinagat Islands, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental

Monday, August 31:

• most of the country

Tuesday, September 1:

• most of Luzon and Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Dinagat Islands, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental

Moderate to rough seas will also persist in the following areas:

Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea)

• Western seaboard of Babuyan Islands — waves up to 4 meters high
• Seaboards of Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Zambales; the northern seaboard of Babuyan Islands; the western seaboards of Pangasinan and Bataan — waves up to 3.5 meters high
• Seaboard of Lubang Islands; the western seaboards of northern La Union, Cavite, Batangas, northern Occidental Mindoro, and Kalayaan Islands — waves up to 3 meters high

Up to moderate seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible)

• Western seaboard of northern Palawan including Calamian Islands; the eastern seaboard of Davao Oriental; the remaining seaboard of Kalayaan Islands; the remaining western seaboard of Occidental Mindoro — waves up to 2.5 meters high
• Seaboards of Isabela, Antique, Surigao del Sur, and Davao Occidental; the southern seaboards of Iloilo and Guimaras; the western seaboard of Negros Occidental; the remaining seaboards of Babuyan Islands and Davao Oriental; the remaining western seaboard of mainland Palawan — waves up to 2 meters high

Aside from Tropical Depression Pilandok, PAGASA is also monitoring the low pressure area that was formerly Saudel, which has a “medium” chance of redeveloping into a tropical depression, and another low pressure area, which also has a “medium” chance of developing into a tropical depression. Both are outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility. – Rappler.com