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MANILA, Philippines – The first day of July is expected to be rainy in Luzon and the Visayas, due to the southwest monsoon or hanging habagat enhanced by Tropical Depression Egay.

In a press briefing past 11 pm on Sunday, June 30, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Egay is already 405 kilometers east northeast of Casiguran, Aurora, or 425 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan.

It accelerated further and is now moving northwest at 35 kilometers per hour (km/h) from the previous 30 km/h.

Egay still has maximum winds of 55 km/h and gustiness of up to 65 km/h. It is expected to weaken into a low pressure area (LPA) on Monday, July 1, but will still enhance the southwest monsoon then.

Egay will not make landfall in the Philippines, but Signal No. 1 remains raised in Batanes since the tropical depression may pass near the province. This means winds of 30 km/h to 60 km/h are expected in Batanes by Monday. (READ: FAST FACTS: Tropical cyclones, rainfall advisories)

PAGASA also warned that rain from the southwest monsoon enhanced by Egay will persist. Expect the following on the first day of July:

Light to heavy monsoon rain

• Metro Manila
• Ilocos Region
• Cordillera Administrative Region
• Central Luzon
• Calabarzon
• Mimaropa
• Bicol
• Antique
• Aklan
• western Iloilo

Scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms

• rest of Luzon
• rest of Western Visayas

Residents of those areas, especially if they live in flood-prone or landslide-prone communities, must be on alert.

PAGASA also warned that there could be moderate to rough seas in the western seaboards of Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Northern Luzon in the next 24 hours. Those with small seacraft should not set sail.

Meanwhile, PAGASA is also monitoring an LPA outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

This LPA is 465 kilometers west of Northern Luzon, located over the West Philippine Sea. It is not expected to enter PAR, and will likely head for China.

Egay is the Philippines’ 5th tropical cyclone for 2019, after Amang in January, Betty in February, Chedeng in March, and Dodong also in June – all tropical depressions as well. (READ: LIST: PAGASA’s names for tropical cyclones in 2019)

The Philippines gets an average of 20 tropical cyclones annually, but since 2019 is an El Niño year, only 14 to 18 tropical cyclones are expected.

Below is the estimated number of tropical cyclones from July to December:

• July – 2 or 3
• August – 2 to 4
• September – 2 to 4
• October – 2 or 3
• November – 1 or 2
• December – 0 or 1

PAGASA declared the start of the rainy season last June 14. – Rappler.com