Southwest monsoon affects much of Philippines; LPA forms inside PAR

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

The low pressure area has a low chance of developing into a tropical depression within 24 hours, says PAGASA on Monday afternoon, June 23

MANILA, Philippines – The southwest monsoon or habagat triggered rain in parts of Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao on Monday, June 23, while a low pressure area (LPA) formed inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

Scattered rain and thunderstorms hit Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Soccsksargen, and the Davao Region, while isolated rain showers or thunderstorms were experienced in the rest of the country on Monday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration said in its forecast issued at 4 pm on Monday that the southwest monsoon will still bring scattered rain and thunderstorms to Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Bicol, Mimaropa, Aurora, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Western Visayas, Negros Occidental, the Zamboanga Peninsula, and BARMM in the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the newly formed LPA was located 185 kilometers west of Cubi Point, Subic Bay, as of 3 pm on Monday.

It has a low chance of developing into a tropical depression within 24 hours, but it will cause scattered rain and thunderstorms in Zambales and Bataan during the period.

PAGASA warned areas affected by the LPA and the southwest monsoon to be on alert for flash floods and landslides. On Monday, several areas in Metro Manila were already flooded.

ALSO ON RAPPLER

• Chiz Escudero and his dilly-dallying over impeachment
• Mga madalas itanong tungkol sa impeachment trial ni VP Sara Duterte
• [EDITORIAL] Malapit sa bituka natin ang giyera ni Trump laban sa Iran
• Thunder best Pacers in Game 7 to bring 1st NBA crown to Oklahoma City
• Who is Cardong Trumpo, the grand winner of ‘Pilipinas Got Talent’ season 7?

The weather bureau is also monitoring a tropical storm outside PAR, with the international name Sepat.

Tropical Storm Sepat was located 2,315 kilometers east northeast of extreme Northern Luzon at 3 pm on Monday, moving north northwest at a relatively fast 30 kilometers per hour (km/h).

Sepat has maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h and gustiness of up to 80 km/h.

The tropical storm is not affecting any part of the Philippines. It is also unlikely to enter PAR, according to PAGASA.

So far, the country has had one tropical cyclone in 2025 — the short-lived Tropical Depression Auring in the second week of June.

The weather bureau earlier said one or two tropical cyclones are expected to form within or enter PAR in June. For the next six months, or from June to November, there could be 11 to 19 tropical cyclones. – Rappler.com