MANILA, Philippines – The low pressure area (LPA) inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) developed into a tropical depression at 8 am on Sunday, September 1.
It was given the local name Enteng, as the country’s fifth tropical cyclone for 2024.
In a briefing shortly before noontime on Sunday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Enteng was located 120 kilometers north northeast of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, or 150 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar.
The tropical depression is moving northwest at a relatively fast 30 kilometers per hour (km/h).
So far, Enteng has maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h and gustiness of up to 55 km/h. But it could intensify into a tropical storm by Monday, September 2, and into a severe tropical storm by Thursday, September 5.
PAGASA said Enteng might make landfall in the Bicol-Eastern Visayas area within 48 hours. Afterwards, beginning Tuesday, September 3, it is projected to “move erratically while near or over the Luzon Strait.”
The weather bureau warned that Enteng is causing moderate to intense rain, with floods and landslides likely. Below is the initial rainfall forecast for the tropical depression.
Sunday noon, September 1, to Monday noon, September 2
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon, rest of Eastern Visayas
Monday noon, September 2, to Tuesday noon, September 3
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Isabela
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Cagayan, Quirino, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Abra, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur
Tuesday noon, September 3, to Wednesday noon, September 4
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Babuyan Islands
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Batanes, mainland Cagayan, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Abra, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur
As of 11 am on Sunday, Signal No. 1 was already raised for these areas in Luzon and the Visayas, which means strong winds are expected from Enteng:
- eastern part of Camarines Sur (Presentacion, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Calabanga, Naga City, Pili, Bombon, Magarao, Ocampo, Baao, Nabua, Bula, Balatan, Bato, Milaor, Minalabac, Camaligan, Saglay, Iriga City, Buhi, Tigaon, San Jose, Goa, Siruma, Tinambac, Lagonoy, Canaman, Gainza, San Fernando)
- Catanduanes
- Albay
- Sorsogon
- Burias Island
- Ticao Island
- Northern Samar
- Samar
- Eastern Samar
- Biliran
- northeastern part of Leyte (Babatngon, San Miguel, Tacloban City, Alangalang, Santa Fe, Palo, Barugo)
PAGASA said the highest possible tropical cyclone wind signal due to Enteng would be Signal No. 2 or 3.
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Enteng is also enhancing the southwest monsoon or habagat.
In a separate advisory issued at 11 am on Sunday, PAGASA warned of rain from the enhanced southwest monsoon. The following areas will be affected:
Sunday, September 1
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Occidental Mindoro, northern part of Palawan including Calamian, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo islands, Antique, Negros Occidental
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Oriental Mindoro, rest of Palawan, Central Visayas, rest of Western Visayas, rest of Negros Island Region
Monday, September 2
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, northern part of Palawan including Calamian, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo islands, Antique, Negros Occidental
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Zambales, Bataan, rest of Mimaropa, rest of Western Visayas
Tuesday, September 3
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Zambales, Bataan
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, northern part of Palawan
Floods and landslides are also likely in areas seeing rain from the enhanced southwest monsoon.
The enhanced southwest monsoon will also cause strong to gale-force gusts in these areas:
Sunday noon, September 1, to Monday noon, September 2
- Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas (outside wind signal areas), Caraga, Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula
Monday noon, September 2, to Tuesday noon, September 3
- Zambales, Bataan, Aurora, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Visayas, Caraga
Tuesday noon, September 3, to Wednesday noon, September 4
- Zambales, Bataan, Aurora, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas
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PAGASA added that Enteng and the enhanced southwest monsoon will affect coastal waters.
In the next 24 hours, moderate to rough seas are expected in the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon and Southern Luzon (waves 1.5 to 3.5 meters high), as well as the seaboard of Northern Samar, eastern seaboard of Eastern Samar, and seaboard of Kalayaan Islands (waves 1.5 to 3 meters high). The weather bureau advised small vessels not to venture out to sea.
Moderate seas are also seen in the remaining seaboards of Bicol, Palawan, and Eastern Visayas, as well as the seaboard of Western Visayas, northern and eastern seaboard of Caraga, and eastern seaboard of Davao Oriental (waves 1.5 to 2.5 meters high). Meanwhile, slight to moderate seas are possible in the eastern seaboard of mainland Northern Luzon, southern seaboard of Calabarzon, remaining seaboards of Mimaropa and Caraga, seaboard of Northern Mindanao, and eastern seaboard of Davao Occidental (waves 1 to 2 meters high). Small vessels must take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible.
Enteng could leave PAR on Friday, September 6.
PAGASA previously estimated there may be two or three tropical cyclones in September.
There is also a 66% chance of La Niña forming in the September-November period. – Rappler.com