QUEZON CITY — Monday, August 24, 2026 — The southwest monsoon, known locally as "habagat," is battering Northern and Central Luzon today with moderate to heavy rains and thunderstorms, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). Coastal waters along Luzon's western seaboard are rough to very rough, putting fisherfolk and small boat operators at serious risk. The rest of the Philippines will see more typical wet-season conditions, with isolated showers expected due to localized weather disturbances.
What Is Driving Today's Weather
The primary driver of today's weather across much of Luzon is the southwest monsoon, or "habagat" — a seasonal wind system that blows moisture-laden air from the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean toward the western side of the Philippine archipelago from roughly May through October. When habagat is active and well-established, it funnels continuous wet weather into western Luzon, often for days at a time, making it one of the most significant rainfall producers of the wet season. That is precisely the situation PAGASA is flagging today.
Separately, PAGASA notes that three tropical depressions — identified as Gaenar and two unnamed systems — are currently located outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) as of 3:00 AM today. While these systems are not directly threatening the Philippines at this time, their presence in the broader regional environment can indirectly enhance monsoon activity. PAGASA has not issued any tropical cyclone wind signals for any part of the country in connection with these systems.
Region-by-Region Forecast
Luzon
The heaviest weather today is concentrated in Luzon, where the southwest monsoon is most directly active. PAGASA breaks down conditions across the island group as follows:
Batanes, the northernmost island group of the Philippines, can expect occasional rains today. While not as intense as areas farther south, residents should remain alert for gusty conditions associated with the monsoon flow.
A broad swath of Northern and Central Luzon — covering the Ilocos Region, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Metro Manila, the rest of Central Luzon, Cagayan Valley, and the provinces of Cavite, Batangas, and Rizal — will experience cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms. Rainfall will be moderate to heavy at times. PAGASA explicitly flags the risk of flash floods and landslides in these areas, particularly in mountain provinces and low-lying urban areas prone to flooding.
Southern Luzon falls under the "rest of the country" classification, where partly cloudy to cloudy skies are expected with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms driven by localized weather systems. Flash floods and landslides remain possible even in these areas during intense, short-duration downpours.
Visayas
The Visayas region falls under the general nationwide forecast of partly cloudy to cloudy conditions with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to localized weather systems. PAGASA does not identify a dominant regional weather driver for the Visayas today beyond these localized disturbances. While conditions are less severe than in Luzon, residents should not be complacent — sudden, intense downpours remain possible, and flash flooding can occur quickly in low-lying or flood-prone communities.
Mindanao
Mindanao similarly falls under the general forecast, with partly cloudy to cloudy skies and isolated rain showers or thunderstorms expected. Localized weather systems are the primary driver. Residents in areas with histories of flash flooding or landslides should stay alert, as even isolated thunderstorms can produce intense, localized rainfall in a short period.
Coastal Waters and Wind Conditions
PAGASA's wind and coastal water forecast presents a stark contrast between Luzon's western coast and the rest of the country — a contrast that has direct, serious implications for maritime safety.
Along the northern and western sectors of Luzon, winds will be moderate to strong, blowing from the southwest. Coastal waters in these areas will be rough to very rough — meaning wave heights are elevated enough to pose a genuine danger to small watercraft and even mid-sized vessels. PAGASA's forecast places these areas under the highest sea state alert in today's bulletin.
In Southern Luzon, winds will be strong from the southwest direction, with coastal waters rated as moderate to rough. This is still a significant sea state that demands caution.
For the rest of the country — covering the Visayas and Mindanao — winds will be light to moderate, generally from a southerly direction, and coastal waters will be slight to moderate. Conditions are more manageable in these areas, though small boat operators should always exercise standard maritime caution.
Decoding the Warnings: What Each Alert Means for You
PAGASA has not raised any tropical cyclone wind signals today, as the three tropical depressions in the region remain outside PAR. However, the agency's forecast does carry implicit hazard alerts that readers should understand clearly.
The mention of possible flash floods and landslides in the forecast for Metro Manila, Central Luzon, the Ilocos Region, CAR, Cagayan Valley, Cavite, Batangas, and Rizal is a direct hazard flag — not a minor footnote. PAGASA issues this language when rainfall intensity and terrain conditions combine to create a credible, near-term risk. If you live in a flood-prone barangay, near a river, or on a hillside, this is your signal to prepare.
The rough to very rough seas warning for northern and western Luzon is the maritime equivalent of a red flag. Vessels venturing into these waters do so at serious risk. If you need to understand how PAGASA's full range of hazard warnings are categorized and what actions each level calls for, read our guide on how to read PAGASA's weather warnings.
What It Means for You
Commuters in Metro Manila and Central Luzon
Expect wet roads, reduced visibility during thunderstorms, and a higher-than-normal risk of street flooding throughout the day. Moderate to heavy rain can fall quickly, overwhelming drainage systems in low-lying urban areas. Leave earlier than usual, avoid flood-prone underpasses and roads, and keep updated on local flood advisories from your LGU. If floodwaters begin rising rapidly in your area, move to higher ground immediately — do not wait.
Fisherfolk and Small Boat Operators
The clearest message from today's PAGASA forecast is directed at you: do not venture into the western and northern coastal waters of Luzon today. Rough to very rough seas are dangerous for small vessels. Even experienced mariners face elevated risk in these conditions. Those operating in Southern Luzon waters should also exercise heightened caution given moderate to rough seas. Fisherfolk in Visayas and Mindanao are in more favorable but not risk-free conditions — check local updates before heading out.
Farmers
For farmers in Ilocos, CAR, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Metro Manila-adjacent provinces, today's moderate to heavy rains, combined with the flash flood risk, present a dual concern: potential waterlogging of fields and the risk of slope erosion on hillside farms. Secure loose materials, check drainage canals, and avoid working on steep slopes during active rainfall and thunderstorms.
Students, Parents, and Schools
Schools in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, CAR, and the Ilocos Region should monitor local government advisories on class suspensions. Heavy rain and the risk of flash flooding in urban areas are precisely the conditions that trigger school closures. Parents should have contingency plans ready if dismissal conditions become unsafe.
Outdoor Workers
Construction workers, delivery riders, and others who work outdoors in Luzon face a high-risk day. Thunderstorms pose lightning hazards in open or elevated areas. If thunder is heard or lightning is observed, seek shelter in a sturdy structure immediately. Avoid open fields, tall trees, and metal structures during active thunderstorm periods.
Temperature and Humidity Outlook
PAGASA's weather station at the Science Garden in Diliman, Quezon City recorded a maximum temperature of 35°C and a minimum of 28.4°C in the 24-hour period ending at 8:00 PM yesterday. Relative humidity reached a maximum of 95% and a minimum of 6% over the same period.
While cloud cover and rain associated with the southwest monsoon will moderate daytime highs in much of Luzon today, the combination of high humidity and any breaks in rainfall can still produce uncomfortable, oppressive heat-humidity conditions. Stay hydrated and take breaks in shaded or air-conditioned spaces when possible.
Astronomical and Tidal Information
For reference, today's sunrise is at 5:47 AM and sunset at 6:14 PM. Moonrise is at 3:32 PM and moonset at 2:04 AM tomorrow. Tidal predictions for Manila Bay show a low tide of 0.03 meters at 4:07 PM, according to data courtesy of NAMRIA. Coastal residents in Metro Manila and nearby areas should factor today's tidal conditions alongside the rainfall outlook when assessing local flood risk.
Bottom line: If you are in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, the Ilocos Region, or the Cordillera today, prepare for moderate to heavy rain and the real possibility of flash flooding — do not dismiss PAGASA's hazard flag. If you are a fisherfolk or boat operator along Luzon's western coast, stay ashore. The rest of the country should stay alert for isolated but potentially intense thunderstorms.
Monitor official PAGASA updates at pagasa.dost.gov.ph