16/07/2025
Stay alert, stay prepared. The Southwest Monsoon continues to drench parts of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao with heavy rain and flood/landslide warnings. A new LPA inside the PAR is intensifying the downpours, while PHIVOLCS reports volcanic tremors at Taal (still at Alert Level 1). Even distant storms are feeding moisture into our system, so remain vigilant, heed local advisories, and prioritize safety.
1. Southwest Monsoon Sustains Widespread Rainfall, Elevating Flood and Landslide Risks
From July 14 through July 15, 2025, the Southwest Monsoon, colloquially known as "Habagat," maintained its dominant influence over the Philippine archipelago, necessitating continuous advisories from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). This pervasive weather system generated widespread rain showers and thunderstorms, significantly escalating the potential for flash floods in low-lying communities and consequential landslides in susceptible mountainous terrains. Regions principally affected included the western sectors of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, encompassing areas such as Western Visayas, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Metropolitan Manila, and portions of Cavite, Batangas, and Laguna. The sustained ingress of moist air driven by the monsoon remains the primary meteorological driver of these conditions. Consequently, authorities strongly urge all residents within these areas to exercise heightened vigilance, diligently monitor official weather bulletins, and implement all requisite precautionary measures to mitigate potential water-induced hazards.
2. New Low-Pressure Area (LPA) Forms Inside PAR, Enhancing Monsoon
A new atmospheric disturbance manifested within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, as PAGASA identified a developing Low-Pressure Area (LPA) at approximately 2:00 PM. Positioned nearly 1,040 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon, this nascent system possesses a medium potential to evolve into a tropical depression within the ensuing 24 to 48 hours; should it strengthen, it will be designated Crising. Its most immediate and salient impact, even absent a direct landfall trajectory, is the pronounced enhancement of the prevailing Southwest Monsoon. This interaction is projected to induce amplified rainfall across numerous regions of the country, thereby accentuating the inherent risks of both floods and landslides. Meteorological officials are issuing a strong call for the public to remain informed through successive weather advisories.
3. Multiple Thunderstorm Advisories Issued Across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao
Throughout July 15, 2025, PAGASA's regional services divisions issued numerous localized thunderstorm advisories, indicating immediate weather threats across vast areas of the Philippines. These frequently updated alerts warned residents in various provinces and cities across Luzon (including Metro Manila and parts of CALABARZON), Visayas (such as Palawan and Cebu), and Mindanao about anticipated moderate to heavy rain showers. These downpours, often accompanied by dangerous lightning and strong winds, posed immediate threats of localized flash floods due to rapid cloud development fueled by monsoon moisture. Affected communities were strongly advised to take immediate protective measures, seek safe shelter, and closely follow real-time weather updates from local authorities.
4. Minor to Moderate Earthquakes Recorded Across Various Regions, Including Taal Volcano Activity
From July 14 to 15, 2025, the Philippine archipelago, situated within the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, registered a series of minor to moderate earthquake events. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) documented a Magnitude 2.0 earthquake in Occidental Mindoro on July 14. Of particular concern, the agency also reported heightened activity at Taal Volcano in Batangas, which manifested in eight volcanic earthquakes and five volcanic tremors over a 24-hour observational period that concluded on July 15. While this volcanic unrest remains at Alert Level 1, signifying low-level agitation, it mandates continuous and rigorous monitoring. These concurrent tectonic and volcanic occurrences collectively serve as a profound reminder for residents in affected vicinities to adhere strictly to established safety protocols and to maintain an unwavering state of preparedness for potential seismic or magmatic hazards.
5. Weather Experts Detail "Indirect" Tropical Cyclone Effects on Monsoon Rainfall
On July 14, 2025, prominent weather scientists, notably from Ateneo de Manila University, brought into stark relief a critical, albeit often underestimated, meteorological phenomenon: the "indirect" impact of tropical cyclones on the Southwest Monsoon. These experts elucidated that even cyclones positioned far outside the Philippine landmass possess a substantial capacity to profoundly enhance the Southwest Monsoon by drawing immense volumes of moisture. This scientific understanding explains why ostensibly moderate monsoon rains can suddenly intensify into torrential downpours across the archipelago, particularly affecting its western regions. This crucial insight demands heightened vigilance and preparedness from disaster management agencies and the populace, serving as a forceful reminder that severe flooding and landslides can manifest with devastating consequences, even in the absence of a direct typhoon threat to the nation during the monsoon season.
Stay informed. Stay safe. - visit our Telegram Channel and at resilient.ph to learn more.
