Metro Manila and nearby provinces woke up to heavy rain Wednesday morning after PAGASA raised an orange rainfall warning at 8 a.m. over Bataan and parts of the capital region, Bulacan and Zambales, the newest alert in a monsoon season that has already forced days of class suspensions across Luzon.
Orange warning: areas under flooding threat
An orange rainfall warning means flooding is still threatening the areas it covers. As of the 8 a.m. advisory, these areas are under orange:
- Bataan
- Metro Manila: Valenzuela, Caloocan, Malabon, Quezon City, Navotas, Manila, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Marikina
- Bulacan: Obando
- Zambales: San Antonio, Olongapo, Castillejos, Subic
The rainfall warning bulletin says light to moderate rain with occasional heavy downpours may persist over these and nearby areas within the next three hours, and advises the public and disaster-risk reduction offices to keep monitoring. The next bulletin is expected at 11 a.m.
Yellow warning: flood-prone areas to watch
Just below the orange zones, a yellow rainfall warning, meaning flooding in low-lying and flood-prone areas, is up over:
- Metro Manila: Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Taguig, Makati, Pasig, Pasay, Pateros
- Bulacan: Bocaue, Balagtas, Bulakan, Guiguinto, Malolos, Paombong, Hagonoy, San Jose del Monte, Marilao, Meycauayan
- Pampanga: Masantol, Macabebe, Sasmuan, Lubao, Floridablanca
- Zambales: Botolan, Cabangan, Candelaria, Iba, Masinloc, Palauig, Santa Cruz, San Felipe, San Marcelino, San Narciso
- Rizal: San Mateo, Rodriguez
- Cavite: Bacoor, Cavite City, Imus, Kawit, Noveleta
- Tarlac: San Jose
Why it is raining
The rain is being driven by the southwest monsoon, reinforced by the trough of a tropical depression lingering just outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the state weather bureau said in its morning briefing. The system, earlier monitored as Pilandok, extends cloudiness over Northern Luzon. Occasional rains are expected over Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Cavite, Batangas and Occidental Mindoro, while Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Aklan and Antique get cloudy skies with scattered rain and thunderstorms.
PAGASA is not ruling out a new low-pressure area forming by Friday, September 11, which could strengthen the monsoon further.
Flooded streets in Manila
On the ground, Manila City reported gutter-deep flooding of about 8 inches by 7:23 a.m. along Taft Avenue near the NBI, PGH-Taft, Pedro Gil and Gen. Malvar, part of the same rains that suspended classes in several Luzon towns for Wednesday.
What the warning levels mean
| Level | What PAGASA says | Areas covered (8 a.m., Sept 9) |
|---|---|---|
| Orange | Flooding is still threatening | Bataan; parts of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Zambales |
| Yellow | Flooding in flood-prone areas | Parts of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Zambales, Rizal, Cavite, Tarlac |
The bureau last escalated to a red rainfall warning over Metro Manila on August 29, when Habagat floods swamped roads and triggered emergency responses.
How to stay safe
Avoid crossing flooded streets and stay away from waterways, canals and areas prone to flash floods during heavy rain. Keep checking official PAGASA advisories and local government announcements for the latest alerts, including the running list of class suspensions, as the bureau issues its next rainfall warning bulletin at 11 a.m.
