The latest storms and low pressure on the afternoon of July 22 of the Philippine Astronomy, Geophysical and atmosphere (Pagasa) said that the low pressure area monitored in East Aurora has developed into tropical low pressure Dante at about 14:00 pm.
The tropical dante is 1,120 km east of Luzon and moves northwest at a speed of 20 km/h.
The maximum wind speed of this tropical depression near the East Sea is 45 km/h and gusts of up to 55 km/h.
In addition to tropical depression, weather experts in the Philippines are also monitoring two other low pressure near the East Sea that have just formed in the past 3 days.
The LPA 07:00 low pressure is in the Philippine Forecast Area (PAR). This low pressure near the East Sea is 170 km east-southeast of Basco, Batanes, Philippines.
Meanwhile, low pressure LPA 07i outside the PAR is 2,705 km east of Eastern Visayas.
Both of these low pressure areas are likely to strengthen into tropical depressions in the next 24 hours.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel Servando, Pagasa leader said that the low pressure in Par LPA 07H and tropical depression Dante were able to combine into one on the night of July 22 and on the morning of July 23. This system after combining a strong tropical depression can move towards the islands in South Japan.
PAGASA weather forecasters also forecast the southwest monsoon or habagat to be stronger until July 24 and 25.
The southwest monsoon has caused heavy rains in some provinces in Luzon and Visayas, Philippines before the formation of tropical depression Dante.
Heavy rain has led to serious flooding in urban centers and low-lying areas, as well as caused landslides in dangerous areas.
Philippine authorities have temporarily suspended classes and offices in Metro Manila and 36 other provinces and cities on July 23 due to heavy rain and flooding. The Ministry of Home Affairs and local authorities also announced a list of temporary suspensions of operations for 30 areas.
PAGASA said on July 22 that five dams in Luzon have released floodwaters amid continuous showers from the southwest monsoon that caused water levels to rise beyond capacity.
PAGASA weather expert Juan Paolo Pamintuan said that at 9:00 a.m. on July 22, the water in the La Mesa dam reservoir reached 80.17m, 80.15m higher than the normal level. The flood discharge dam is expected to affect low-lying areas along the Tullahan River, including Quezon City, Valenzuela City, Caloocan City, Malabon City and Navotas.
The Upper Wawa Dam also recorded rising water since the evening of July 21 and flood discharge could affect areas along the Pasig-Marikina River, including San Mateo, Rodriguez, Antipolo, Quezon City, Marikina, Pasig, San Juan, Mandaluyong and Manila.
"The dams do not affect floods much but they still have an impact and cannot be underestimated," said the PAGASA expert.
