Newly formed Tropical Depression Neneng to enhance southwest monsoon

WEATHER SYSTEMS. Satellite image of Tropical Depression Neneng inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility and the low pressure area outside PAR as of August 18, 2026, 4 pm. PAGASA While Tropical Depression Neneng is likely to stay far from Philippine landmass, it will influence the southwest monsoon Tropical Depression Neneng is the Philippines' 14th tropical cyclone for 2026. Neneng is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon, which is still bringing rain to Luzon and the Visayas. This is AI-generated. Read the article for full context. Report any errors. MANILA, Philippines – The low pressure area (LPA) inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) developed into a tropical depression at 2 pm on Tuesday, August 18. It was given the local name Neneng, as the country’s 14th tropical tropical cyclone for 2026. It is also the third tropical cyclone for August, after Tropical Depression Luis and Tropical Storm Maymay (Kujira). In a briefing past 5 pm on Tuesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Neneng was located 1,025 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon at 4 pm. The tropical depression is moving northwest at 20 kilometers per hour, with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h and gustiness of up to 55 km/h. PAGASA expects Neneng to stay far from Philippine landmass, as it is heading toward Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and Taiwan. The tropical depression may also weaken into a remnant low over Taiwan on Thursday, August 20. Neneng is not directly affecting the Philippines, but it is seen to enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat, which is still affecting Luzon and the Visayas. PAGASA warned the public that the southwest monsoon could still trigger moderate to intense rain, which may cause more floods and landslides. Below is the weather bureau’s latest 72-hour rainfall outlook, released at 5 pm on Tuesday. Tuesday afternoon, August 18, to Wednesday afternoon, August 19 Heavy to intense rain (100-200 millimeters): Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Metro Manila, La Union, Benguet, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Laguna, Rizal, Antique Wednesday afternoon, August 19, to Thursday afternoon, August 20 Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Ilocos Sur, Abra, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Oriental Mindoro Thursday afternoon, August 20, to Friday afternoon, August 21 Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, La Union, Benguet, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro For Tuesday evening, the southwest monsoon will also continue to bring scattered rain and thunderstorms to the rest of Luzon, the rest of Western Visayas, and the Negros Island Region, as well as isolated rain showers or thunderstorms to Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas. PAGASA added that the southwest monsoon is bringing strong to gale-force gusts to these areas: Tuesday, August 18 most of the country Wednesday, August 19, and Thursday, August 20 most of Luzon, most of Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region Moderate to rough sea conditions are also expected in the next 24 hours. Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea) Seaboards of Zambales and Lubang Islands; western seaboards of Pangasinan and Bataan – waves up to 3.5 meters high Seaboards of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Kalayaan Islands; western seaboards of Babuyan Islands, Occidental Mindoro, Calamian Islands, northern Palawan, and Davao Oriental – waves up to 3 meters high Up to moderate seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible) Seaboards of La Union and Surigao del Sur; western seaboards of Batanes, Cavite, Batangas, and mainland Palawan – waves up to 2.5 meters high Seaboards of Isabela, northern Aurora, Romblon, Cuyo Islands, Cagayancillo Islands, Antique, and Davao Occidental; northern seaboards of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur; northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes and Northern Samar; eastern seaboards of Albay, Sorsogon, Eastern Samar, Dinagat Islands, and Siargao-Bucas Grande Islands; southern seaboards of Marinduque, Quezon, Iloilo, Guimaras, and Davao Oriental; western seaboard of Negros Occidental; remaining seaboards of Batanes, Pangasinan, Calamian Islands, and northern Palawan – waves up to 2 meters high Meanwhile, the other LPA that PAGASA has been monitoring remains outside PAR. As of 2 pm on Tuesday, it was located 460 kilometers west of Calayan, Cagayan. PAGASA Weather Specialist Benison Estareja said the LPA now has a high chance of developing into a tropical depression within 24 hours, but it is slowly moving away and is less likely to enter PAR. The weather bureau has also begun monitoring a tropical depression far outside PAR — 3,160 kilometers east of northeastern Mindanao as of 2 pm on Tuesday. This tropical depression, which is almost stationary or barely moving, has maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h and gustiness of up to 55 km/h. Updates are expected in the coming days. PAGASA estimated that up to four tropical cyclones may develop within or enter PAR in August. – Rappler.com How does this make you feel? Loading