MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Depression Enteng slightly strengthened over the waters northeast of Northern Samar on Sunday afternoon, September 1.

Enteng’s maximum sustained winds increased from 45 kilometers per hour to 55 km/h, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in its 5 pm bulletin on Sunday.

The tropical depression’s gustiness is now up to 70 km/h from the previous 55 km/h.

As of 4 pm, it was located 100 kilometers northeast of Catarman, Northern Samar, or 115 kilometers east southeast of Virac, Catanduanes.

Enteng maintained its northwest movement, but it slowed down to just 15 km/h from 30 km/h.

Based on its current path and speed, Enteng is now projected to make landfall in Catanduanes or Albay within 12 hours, or by early Monday, September 2, at the latest.

Also during the next 12 hours, it could intensify into a tropical storm.

PAGASA updated its rainfall forecast for Enteng, now covering the following areas:

Sunday afternoon, September 1, to Monday afternoon, September 2

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Polillo Islands, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Albay, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Samar
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Metro Manila, rest of Calabarzon, Marinduque, Romblon, Eastern Samar, Biliran, northern part of Leyte

Monday afternoon, September 2, to Tuesday afternoon, September 3

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Isabela, Cagayan, Abra, Ilocos Norte
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Aurora, rest of mainland Cagayan Valley, rest of Cordillera Administrative Region, rest of Ilocos Region

Tuesday afternoon, September 3, to Wednesday afternoon, September 4

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Babuyan Islands, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, northern part of Ilocos Sur
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Batanes, mainland Cagayan, rest of Cordillera Administrative Region, rest of Ilocos Region

The weather bureau also placed more areas under Signal No. 1 at 5 pm on Sunday. The following will have strong winds from Enteng:

• southeastern part of Cagayan (Baggao, Peñablanca)
• eastern part of Isabela (Palanan, Dinapigue, Divilacan, San Agustin, San Guillermo, Jones, Echague, San Mariano, Maconacon, San Pablo, Cabagan, Tumauini, Ilagan City)
• southern part of Quirino (Nagtipunan, Maddela)
• northern part of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler)
• Polillo Islands
• southern part of mainland Quezon (Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Buenavista, San Narciso, Mulanay, San Andres, San Francisco, Lopez, Calauag, Catanauan, Gumaca, Macalelon, General Luna, Quezon, Alabat, Perez)
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduanes
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Masbate incuding Ticao and Burias islands
• Northern Samar
• Samar
• Eastern Samar
• Biliran
• northeastern part of Leyte (Babatngon, San Miguel, Tacloban City, Alangalang, Santa Fe, Palo, Barugo)

PAGASA said the highest possible tropical cyclone wind signal due to Enteng would be Signal No. 2 or 3.

Enteng is also enhancing the southwest monsoon or habagat, which is affecting parts of Southern Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

In its 4 pm forecast on Sunday, PAGASA said Mimaropa and much of the Visayas will have occasional rain due to the enhanced southwest monsoon in the next 24 hours.

Metro Manila, much of Calabarzon, and Mindanao will also have scattered rain and thunderstorms from the enhanced southwest monsoon.

In addition, the enhanced southwest monsoon will cause strong to gale-force gusts in these areas:

Sunday afternoon, September 1, to Monday afternoon, September 2

• Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Negros Island Region, Eastern Visayas (outside wind signal areas), Caraga, Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula

Monday afternoon, September 2, to Tuesday afternoon, September 3

• Zambales, Bataan, Aurora, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Visayas, Caraga

Tuesday afternoon, September 3, to Wednesday afternoon, September 4

• Zambales, Bataan, Aurora, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas

A separate and more detailed habagat update is expected from PAGASA at 11 pm on Sunday.

Enteng and the enhanced southwest monsoon are affecting coastal waters as well.

PAGASA issued a gale warning at 5 pm on Sunday. This warning covers Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, the eastern coast of Camarines Sur, the eastern coast of Albay, the eastern coast of Sorsogon, and the northern and eastern coast of Northern Samar (waves 3.7 to 4.5 meters high). Seas are rough to very rough, so travel is risky for small vessels.

Outside the gale warning areas, moderate to rough seas are expected in the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon and Southern Luzon (waves 1.5 to 3.5 meters high), as well as the eastern seaboard of Eastern Samar and the seaboard of Kalayaan Islands (waves 1.5 to 3 meters high). The weather bureau advised small vessels not to venture out to sea.

Moderate seas are also seen in the southern seaboard of Calabarzon, remaining seaboards of Bicol, Palawan, and Eastern Visayas, as well as the seaboard of Western Visayas, northern and eastern seaboard of Caraga, and eastern seaboard of Davao Oriental (waves 1.5 to 2.5 meters high). Meanwhile, slight to moderate seas are possible in the eastern seaboard of mainland Northern Luzon, remaining seaboards of Mimaropa, Visayas, and Caraga, as well as the seaboard of Northern Mindanao and eastern seaboard of Davao Occidental (waves 1 to 2 meters high). Small vessels must take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible.

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After Enteng’s expected landfall in Catanduanes or Albay, it may emerge over the waters north of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur, then move over the waters east of Luzon on Monday.

From Tuesday, September 3, to Wednesday, September 4, Enteng may turn northwest then west while slowing down over the Luzon Strait. PAGASA said it is not ruling out another landfall in mainland Northern Luzon or Babuyan Islands.

Starting Thursday, September 5, Enteng is likely to maintain a more northwest movement.

The weather bureau added that Enteng may strengthen into a severe tropical storm on Wednesday and into a typhoon by Thursday or Friday, September 6.

Also by Friday, Enteng could exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

Enteng is the country’s 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