MANILA, Philippines – Enteng (Yagi) intensified from a severe tropical storm into a typhoon outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday, September 4.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Enteng’s maximum sustained winds had already reached 140 kilometers per hour. Its gustiness is up to 170 km/h.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the typhoon was located 450 kilometers west northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, slowly moving west northwest.

Even though Enteng continues to move away from PAR, its trough or extension is still bringing rain to Northern Luzon.

In particular, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, the Cordillera Administrative Region, and Cagayan Valley are still seeing moderate to at times heavy rain from Enteng’s trough.

Enteng had developed from a low pressure area inside PAR last Sunday, September 1. It made landfall as a tropical storm in Casiguran, Aurora, on Monday, September 2.

Afterwards, it crossed Quirino, Isabela, Kalinga, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte, before emerging over the West Philippine Sea, where it strengthened into a severe tropical storm. Finally, it left PAR early Wednesday.

At the height of Enteng’s onslaught, the rain was heavy to torrential, causing floods and landslides. Signal No. 2 was the highest tropical cyclone wind signal raised due to Enteng.

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Meanwhile, the enhanced southwest monsoon or habagat will continue to affect other areas in Luzon in the next 24 hours. It is still being enhanced by the typhoon.

PAGASA warned on Wednesday afternoon that heavy to intense rain is still expected in Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro.

Moderate to heavy rain will persist in Metro Manila, La Union, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Laguna, Oriental Mindoro, the northern part of Palawan, and the rest of Central Luzon.

Scattered rain — moderate to at times heavy — will hit Quezon, Marinduque, and Romblon.

Floods and landslides remain possible in areas affected by the enhanced southwest monsoon.

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For coastal waters, the weather bureau issued a new gale warning at 5 pm on Wednesday, still due to Enteng and the enhanced southwest monsoon.

The gale warning covers Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur (waves 3.7 to 5 meters high) as well as the northern coast of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Batanes, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, and Lubang Islands (waves 3.4 to 4.5 meters high).

Seas are rough to very rough, so travel is risky for small vessels.

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Enteng was the Philippines’ fifth tropical cyclone for 2024 and the first for September. PAGASA previously estimated there may be two or three tropical cyclones during the month.

There is also a 66% chance of La Niña forming in the September-November period. – Rappler.com