24/07/2025
๐ฆ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ง๐จ๐ฅ๐ | ๐ฆ๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ข๐ฅ
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐ท๐ถ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐๐ณ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐บ๐ผ๐ป๐ด
Written By: Jordan Gomez
When one thinks of dancing, the first thought that comes to mind is one of romanceโa slow groove, a waltz perhaps, where the atmosphere is almost euphoricโbut who would've thought that dancing could signify something quite alarming, a dance that brings uncertainty of safety.
A dance between calamities.
The Fujiwhara effect, first observed by Sakuhei Fujiwhara, a Japanese meteorologist, in 1921. A natural phenomenon wherein if two or more Tropical Weather Systems (TWS) are close enough to one another, they begin to attract each other, influencing their trajectoriesโresulting in an intense dance between the TWSs around a common point.
This showdown between disasters can cause the TWSs to merge, forming a more devastating storm in its wake. In other cases, the TWSs don't merge but repel each other.
A low pressure area (LPA) east of Aurora monitored by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) turned into Tropical Depression (TD) Dante this Tuesday afternoon.
Later on Wednesday morning, TD Dante intensified into Tropical Storm (TS) Dante, stated by PAGASA.
TS Dante was last located approximately 880 kilometers east of Northern Luzon carrying winds 65 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of 80 kph moving northwest.
According to PAGASA, a low pressure area in the northern region of Luzon has strengthened into TD Emong this Wednesday morning, and in the afternoon, TD Emong intensified into a Tropical Storm (TS).
TS Emong was last located 150 kilometers west of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, with winds up to 65 kph near its center and gusts of 85 kph.
On Wednesday, July 23, 2025, the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) became a dance floor for TS Dante and TS Emong as they are only 1,100 kilometers apart exhibiting the Fujiwhara effect.
As TS Dante moves northwest, its wind continues to affect the trajectory of TS Emong as the Fujiwhara Effect occurs between the two. As a result, TS Emong began looping in the northern part of Luzon causing rainfall across the region including Metro Manila.
Benison Estareja, a weather specialist from PAGASA, explained that TS Dante is making Emong stay over the Ilocos region for a moment as it exits the PAR.
โAs Storm Dante moves northward, it may dictate the path of Tropical Depression Emong, given that Dante is relatively stronger and currently the dominant system,โ said Estareja at a press briefing this Wednesday.
For now, PAGASA predicts that TS Emong will emit rainfall on the vicinity of Ilocos Region and other parts of Luzon, because of Emongโs slow movement.
Paired with winds from TS Dante and TS Emong, the Southwest Monsoon, known as Hanging Habagat, caused rainfalls in the Visayas Region. Due to Hanging Habagat being intensified by the dancing typhoons, the Visayas regions are experiencing heavy rains and some are expecting torrential rainfall this Friday afternoon, stated by the state weather bureau.
A familiar rhythm.
Emong and Danteโs performance might be rare, but they weren't the only dancers on PARโs stage. Back in 2009, Typhoon Parma (Pepeng) and Typhoon Melor (Quedan) swept the dance floor. Pepeng was a Super Typhoon (ST) that crossed the northern tip of Luzon on October 3, 2009, washing mainland Luzon with torrential rains before it moved over to the West Philippine Sea and stalled for a day and a half. On October 9, 2009, ST Pepeng began reversing and came back to Luzon due to Typhoon Quedan influencing Pepengโs trajectory.
An interaction between the two typhoons caused a deadly dance. According to Reuters, on October 6, 2009, Typhoon Quedan and ST Pepeng left 22 dead and damaged over millions of dollars of infrastructure within the region of Luzon.
Hope amidst the storm's dance.
Although the dance of Emong and Dante brings a frightening image to mindโa chaotic waltz of wind and rainโit highlights the resilience of a nation that has weathered countless storms. Even as these powerful systems swirl and interact, bringing uncertainty and challenge, the rhythm of hope continues. The show of nature's power is indeed a formidable one, but the resolve of the Filipino people to rebuild, to recover, and to look towards a brighter tomorrow is an even brighter force.
Cartoon by: Erwin Oritz
Layout by: Khian Abesamis
