Today’s Philippine Weather: Tropical Storm Maymay (JMA Name: Kujira) Crosses Luzon, Heavy Rain Continues in Manila

Manila continued to see rainy weather on the 6th. As Typhoon Maymay (JMA name: Kujira) approached and passed through, the southwest monsoon (habagat) intensified, bringing intermittent rain.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Maymay strengthened from a tropical depression into a tropical storm over waters off Bacnotan, La Union, on the morning of the 5th. It made landfall in Magsingal, Ilocos Sur, late that night and crossed northern Luzon through the early hours of the 6th. As of 4 p.m. on the 6th, it had reached waters 150 km northeast of Echague, Isabela, and weakened into a tropical depression as it moved into the Philippine Sea. Moving at an accelerating 35 km/h, it was expected to weaken into a remnant low by the night of the 6th and dissipate into a tropical disturbance by the morning of the 7th.

No Storm Signal for Metro Manila

As the typhoon approached, PAGASA raised Signal No. 2 over six to eight areas of northern Luzon, including Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Mountain Province, and Abra. Metro Manila, meanwhile, was not placed under any storm signal, remaining instead under a yellow heavy rainfall warning due to the southwest monsoon.

Although the worst of the rain has passed, rainfall is expected to continue over the next few days across northern and central Luzon due to the southwest monsoon. PAGASA has issued warnings for the following areas:

• Heavy to very heavy rain (100–200 mm): Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet
• Moderate to heavy rain (50–100 mm): Ilocos Norte, Abra, Apayao, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Kalinga, Nueva Vizcaya, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan

Because of the weather, a number of schools in areas under storm signals announced class suspensions.

No government advisory to leave work early was issued, but Honobono Real Estate Co., Ltd. in Makati City moved up its employees’ clock-out time by 30 minutes.

In Metro Manila, cloudy and muggy conditions are expected to continue in the days ahead.