As of Tuesday, September 1, 2026, the southwest monsoon, locally known as habagat, continued to influence parts of Luzon and Western Visayas, despite signs of easing in certain regions. While no areas were experiencing heavy to intense rainfall from the monsoon system, several provinces remained under threat of moderate to heavy rain. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Batanes, Abra, Benguet, Zambales, and Bataan would face moderate to heavy rain on Tuesday. By Thursday, September 3, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro could expect heavy to intense rainfall once again. These conditions pose flood and landslide risks in the affected areas. The monsoon's impact extended beyond rainfall, with strong winds and rough seas forecasted for coastal and upland regions across Luzon and parts of the Visayas. Coastal areas such as the western seaboard of Babuyan Islands, the seaboards of Ilocos Norte, and the western seaboards of Batanes and Pangasinan faced wave heights of up to five meters, making travel dangerous for all vessels. Other areas, including the western seaboards of Zambales and Bataan, saw wave heights reaching 3.5 meters. Small vessels were advised against venturing out in these zones due to the risk posed by the rough seas. Tropical Depression Pilandok, though not expected to make direct contact with the Philippines, had maintained its presence in the Philippine Sea east of extreme Northern Luzon. On Monday, August 31, PAGASA recorded Pilandok at 1,145 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon, moving north northwestward at 10 kilometers per hour with sustained winds of 55 km/h and gusts up to 70 km/h. The system was projected to intensify into a tropical storm by Tuesday, September 1, before exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Wednesday evening or Thursday morning. Alongside Pilandok, two additional tropical depressions outside PAR were influencing the monsoon system. One, named Saudel (previously called Obet), was situated 1,180 kilometers west of extreme Northern Luzon, moving southward at 15 km/h with winds of 45 km/h and gusts up to 75 km/h. Another unnamed tropical depression was found 485 kilometers west northwest of Itbayat, Batanes, moving north northeastward at 15 km/h with similar wind speeds. Both systems contributed to the enhancement of the southwest monsoon, increasing the intensity of rainfall in various parts of Luzon and Western Visayas. PAGASA issued specific forecasts for the next few days, detailing the distribution of rainfall across different regions. From Monday, August 31, through Tuesday, September 1, heavy to intense rain was expected in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra, Pangasinan, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, and Pampanga. Moderate to heavy rain was anticipated in Batanes, Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, and Bulacan. On Tuesday, the heavy to intense rain would focus on Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra, Benguet, Zambales, and Bataan, with moderate to heavy rain extending to Pangasinan, Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Batanes, Tarlac, and Pampanga. The situation prompted PAGASA to issue warnings regarding potential flash floods and landslides in the affected areas. Residents were urged to stay alert and follow official advisories. Additionally, small vessels were cautioned against navigating waters near the affected coasts due to the risk of encountering rough seas. The movement and behavior of Pilandok and the other tropical depressions were closely monitored by PAGASA. Although Pilandok was unlikely to make landfall, its trajectory suggested it might briefly intensify into a tropical storm before weakening again. The other tropical depressions, while not expected to directly impact the Philippines, were noted for their potential to influence the monsoon further, prolonging the rainy conditions in certain regions. PAGASA continued to assess the evolving weather patterns, updating its forecasts regularly. With the monsoon showing signs of easing in some areas but maintaining its grip on others, the agency emphasized the importance of vigilance among residents and authorities alike. The ongoing monitoring of these weather systems ensured that timely updates and necessary precautions could be taken to mitigate any adverse effects on communities and infrastructure.
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