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TROPICAL CYCLONES. Satellite image of Tropical Depression Mirasol inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility and the tropical depression outside PAR as of September 17, 2025, 4 pm.
PAGASA
Tropical Depression Mirasol is still bringing moderate to intense rain and strong winds to parts of Northern Luzon on Wednesday, September 17
MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Depression Mirasol was already in the vicinity of Kabugao, Apayao, as of 4 pm on Wednesday, September 17, and is expected to emerge over the coastal waters of Ilocos Norte in the evening.
Meanwhile, the tropical depression outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility accelerated ahead of its expected entry into PAR.
Mirasol
In a briefing past 5 pm on Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Mirasol is moving northwest at 20 kilometers per hour (km/h).
It continues to have maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h and gustiness of up to 90 km/h. But it could intensify into a tropical storm on Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning, September 18, once it is already off Ilocos Norte.
Earlier, Mirasol made landfall in Casiguran, Aurora, at 3:20 am, then proceeded to cross Northern Luzon.
In the next 24 hours, or from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday afternoon, Mirasol will continue to bring heavy to intense rain (100-200 millimeters) to Cagayan, and moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm) to Isabela, Kalinga, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra, and Benguet. Floods and landslides remain possible.
Strong winds will also persist in these areas which are still under Signal No. 1 as of 5 pm on Wednesday:
- Batanes
- Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
- western and northern parts of Isabela (Santo Tomas, Alicia, San Mateo, Aurora, Santa Maria, Quezon, Ramon, Naguilian, Roxas, Luna, Delfin Albano, Cauayan City, San Pablo, Ilagan City, Santiago City, Tumauini, Cabagan, Reina Mercedes, San Manuel, Cabatuan, Quirino, Gamu, San Isidro, Mallig, Cordon, Maconacon, Burgos, Divilacan)
- northwestern part of Quirino (Diffun, Saguday)
- northern part of Nueva Vizcaya (Kayapa, Ambaguio, Bayombong, Villaverde, Solano, Quezon, Bagabag, Diadi)
- Apayao
- Abra
- Kalinga
- Mountain Province
- Ifugao
- northern part of Benguet (Bakun, Mankayan, Buguias, Kabayan, Atok, Kibungan, Kapangan, Bokod)
- Ilocos Norte
- Ilocos Sur
- northern part of La Union (Luna, Bangar, Sudipen, Santol, San Gabriel, Balaoan, Bacnotan, San Juan, San Fernando City, Bagulin)
The highest possible tropical cyclone wind signal due to Mirasol is Signal No. 2.
Also in the next 24 hours, moderate to rough seas will continue in the eastern seaboard of mainland Cagayan and seaboard of Isabela (waves up to 3 meters high), as well as the remaining seaboards of mainland Cagayan and seaboards of Babuyan Islands, Batanes, Aurora, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur (waves up to 2.5 meters high).
PAGASA advised small vessels to take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible.
Mirasol, the Philippines’ 13th tropical cyclone for 2025, is expected to exit PAR on Thursday morning.
It is the third tropical cyclone for September, after Tropical Depression Kiko and Tropical Depression Lannie, which were both inside PAR for only a few hours. PAGASA had estimated two to four tropical cyclones during the month.
Potential Nando
The tropical depression outside PAR, meanwhile, was last spotted 1,245 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon as of 3 pm on Wednesday. It is moving west northwest at a faster 25 km/h from the previous 10 km/h.
It maintained its strength, with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h and gustiness of up to 55 km/h.
Once it enters PAR, it would be given the local name Nando. It currently has no international name because only tropical cyclones that reach at least tropical storm status are given international names.
PAGASA said the tropical depression “is less likely to directly affect” weather and sea conditions in the Philippines in the next 48 hours.
But Signal No. 1 due to the new tropical cyclone may be raised in Northern Luzon as early as Saturday, September 20, while heavy rain from this weather disturbance could begin by Sunday, September 21, or Monday, September 22.
The weather bureau added that the potential Nando may strengthen over the Philippine Sea and eventually reach typhoon category by Monday. “Further intensification is not ruled out.”
If it does become a typhoon, Signal No. 4 might be the highest tropical cyclone wind signal for portions of Northern Luzon.
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Southwest monsoon
Other areas in Luzon are not affected by Mirasol, but they will have scattered rain and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon or habagat on Wednesday evening. Similar conditions will likewise persist in Western Visayas, the Negros Island Region, and the Zamboanga Peninsula, still because of the southwest monsoon.
The southwest monsoon is bringing strong to gale-force gusts to these areas as well:
Wednesday, September 17
- southern part of Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Mimaropa
Thursday, September 18
- Metro Manila, Isabela, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Batanes, Ilocos Region, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Quezon, Bicol, Mimaropa, Western Visayas
Friday, September 19
- Ilocos Region, Zambales, Bataan
– Rappler.com
