MANILA, Philippines – Severe Tropical Storm Enteng (Yagi) left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at 4 am on Wednesday, September 4, but it continues to enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat.
Enteng was last spotted 265 kilometers west northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in a briefing past 5 am on Wednesday. It is slowly moving west northwest.
The severe tropical storm slightly intensified, with its maximum sustained winds now at 100 kilometers per hour from the previous 95 km/h. Its gustiness is now up to 125 km/h from 115 km/h.
There are no more areas under a tropical cyclone wind signal after Enteng’s exit from PAR. The highest tropical cyclone wind signal raised was Signal No. 2.
But PAGASA said Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur still have moderate to heavy rain (50-100 millimeters) on Wednesday from Enteng.
Enteng had developed from a low pressure area inside PAR last Sunday, September 1. It made landfall as a tropical storm in Casiguran, Aurora, on Monday, September 2. Afterwards, it crossed Quirino, Isabela, Kalinga, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte, before emerging over the West Philippine Sea early Tuesday, September 3.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said at least 10 people have been reported dead due to Enteng, which triggered severe flooding and landslides.
Meanwhile, parts of Luzon continue to experience moderate to intense rain from the enhanced southwest monsoon. In a separate advisory issued at 11 pm on Tuesday, PAGASA warned of rain in the following areas:
Wednesday, September 4
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): northern part of Palawan including Calamian, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo islands, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, La Union, Benguet
Thursday, September 5
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): northern part of Palawan including Calamian, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo islands, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija
Friday, September 6
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Occidental Mindoro, Zambales, Bataan
The enhanced southwest monsoon is also bringing strong to gale-force gusts to these areas:
Wednesday, September 4
- Ilocos Region, Abra, Benguet, Isabela, Zambales, Bataan, Aurora, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Northern Samar
Thursday, September 5
- Ilocos Region, Isabela, Zambales, Bataan, Aurora, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Northern Samar
Enteng and the enhanced southwest monsoon continue to affect coastal waters as well.
PAGASA’s latest gale warning released at 5 am on Wednesday covers the western seaboard of Northern Luzon (waves 3.7 to 5 meters high) as well as the northern and western seaboards of Luzon (waves 3.4 to 4.5 meters high). Seas are rough to very rough, so travel is risky for small vessels.
Moderate to rough seas are seen in the remaining seaboards of Northern Luzon and the remaining western seaboard of Southern Luzon outside gale warning areas (waves 1.5 to 4 meters high). The weather bureau advised small vessels not to venture out to sea.
Up to moderate seas are expected in the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon and Southern Luzon as well as the southern seaboard of Southern Luzon (waves 1 to 2.5 meters high), plus the western and eastern seaboards of the Visayas and the eastern seaboard of Mindanao (waves 1 to 2 meters high). Small vessels must take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible.
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Outside PAR, Enteng will head for China, where it could make landfall during the weekend.
PAGASA also said Enteng could strengthen into a typhoon within 12 hours, or by Wednesday afternoon at the latest, then reach its peak intensity by Friday, September 6.
Enteng was the Philippines’ fifth tropical cyclone for 2024 and the first for September. PAGASA previously estimated there may be two or three tropical cyclones during the month.
There is also a 66% chance of La Niña forming in the September-November period. – Rappler.com