Tropical Depression Neneng intensifies; enhanced southwest monsoon brings more rain

FORECAST. PAGASA Weather Specialist Chenel Dominguez explains the bureau's 5 am forecast for Tropical Depression Neneng inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, and the two tropical depressions outside PAR, on August 19, 2026. PAGASA There are no rainfall warnings or tropical cyclone wind signals raised due to Tropical Depression Neneng, but warnings because of the southwest monsoon are still in effect on Wednesday, August 19 Tropical Depression Neneng's maximum sustained winds increased to 55 km/h early Wednesday, August 19. Neneng is unlikely to make landfall in the Philippines, but it is enhancing the southwest monsoon. Two other tropical depressions are being monitored outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility. This is AI-generated. Read the article for full context. Report any errors. MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Depression Neneng slightly intensified before dawn on Wednesday, August 19, while enhancing the southwest monsoon or habagat, which remains the country’s major source of rain. Neneng’s maximum sustained winds increased from 45 kilometers per hour to 55 km/h, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in a briefing past 5 am on Wednesday. The tropical depression’s gustiness is now up to 70 km/h from 55 km/h. As of 4 am, Neneng was already 675 kilometers east of Itbayat, Batanes, moving northwest at 15 km/h. The tropical depression is unlikely to make landfall in the Philippines. Instead, it could make landfall in Taiwan between Thursday afternoon, August 20, and Friday morning, August 21. Taiwan is within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). PAGASA also said Neneng may weaken into a remnant low over or near Taiwan by Friday morning. There are no rainfall warnings or tropical cyclone wind signals raised due to Neneng, but warnings because of the southwest monsoon are still in effect. PAGASA’s updated rainfall outlook for the southwest monsoon, released at 5 am on Wednesday, covers the next 48 hours. Wednesday remains critical for Metro Manila and 17 provinces, while most of these areas might begin to see gradually improving weather on Thursday. Floods and landslides can still occur. Wednesday, August 19 Heavy to intense rain (100-200 millimeters): Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Metro Manila, La Union, Benguet, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, Oriental Mindoro Thursday, August 20 Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan For Wednesday, the rest of Luzon as well as Antique and Aklan may also have scattered rain and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon. PAGASA added that the southwest monsoon is bringing strong to gale-force gusts to these areas: Wednesday, August 19, and Thursday, August 20 most of Luzon, most of Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region Friday, August 21 most of Luzon, Panay Island, Negros Occidental, Northern Samar, Davao Oriental Moderate to rough sea conditions will persist on Wednesday, too. Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea) Seaboards of Zambales and Lubang Islands; western seaboards of Babuyan Islands, Bataan, and Pangasinan; northern seaboard of Ilocos Norte – waves up to 3.5 meters high Seaboards of Ilocos Sur and La Union; remaining seaboards of Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, and Pangasinan; western seaboards of Batangas and Occidental Mindoro; northern and western seaboards of Calamian Islands and Kalayaan Islands; southern seaboard of Bataan – waves up to 3 meters high Up to moderate seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible) Seaboard of Surigao del Sur; western seaboards of Cavite and northern mainland Palawan; eastern seaboard of Davao Oriental; remaining seaboards of Occidental Mindoro and Kalayaan Islands – waves up to 2.5 meters high Seaboards of Isabela, northern Aurora, Romblon, Cuyo Islands, Cagayancillo Islands, Antique, and Davao Occidental; northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes; eastern seaboards of Dinagat Islands and Siargao-Bucas Grande Islands; southern seaboards of Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Quezon, and Iloilo; remaining seaboards of Palawan and Davao Oriental – waves up to 2 meters high Neneng is the Philippines’ 14th tropical cyclone for 2026, and the third tropical cyclone for August, after Tropical Depression Luis and Tropical Storm Maymay (Kujira). Aside from Neneng, there are now two tropical depressions being monitored outside PAR. The low pressure area that PAGASA has been monitoring over the West Philippine Sea developed into a tropical depression at 8 pm on Tuesday, August 20. As of 3 am on Wednesday, this tropical depression was located 670 kilometers west of Calayan, Cagayan, moving west at 20 km/h. It has maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h and gustiness of up to 55 km/h. The tropical depression is not expected to enter PAR, as it is heading for China. However, it may help enhance the southwest monsoon. Meanwhile, the other tropical depression outside PAR was last spotted 3,090 kilometers east of northeastern Mindanao, slowly moving west at 3 am on Wednesday. Its maximum sustained winds increased from 45 km/h to 55 km/h, while its gustiness is now up to 70 km/h from 55 km/h. PAGASA Weather Specialist Chenel Dominguez said there is still high uncertainty in the forecast for this tropical cyclone given its distance from the Philippines, but it might also enhance the southwest monsoon in the last week of August. The weather bureau estimated that up to four tropical cyclones may develop within or enter PAR during the month. – Rappler.com How does this make you feel? Loading