Downpours to renew flood threat in the Philippines as new tropical system brews
By
Renee Duff, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Updated Dec 26, 2020 2:43 PM EDT
Lava glows at night during the Kilauea eruption on Dec. 22, on the big island of Hawaii. The U.S. Geological Survey captured this video of the lava "fountaining" early in the morning.
Forecasters warn that a slug of tropical moisture in the western Pacific Ocean will bring additional rounds of downpours to an already flood-battered Philippines through Sunday.
Some of the same areas that experienced deadly flooding and mudslides last week from then Tropical Depression Vicky, known internationally by the name Krovanh, will be in the line of fire of the latest round of tropical downpours. This can disrupt the ongoing recovery and cleanup efforts, as well as create new flooding and mudslide concerns.
"A pair of tropical disturbances will bring rounds of heavy rain to the southern and eastern Philippines through Sunday, local time," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jason Nicholls said.
"Downpours can result in flash flooding and mudslides, especially across those areas that have been recently impacted by Vicky (Krovanh)," Zartman said.
Since the ground is already saturated, it will not take much rainfall to instigate or renew flooding problems. Unstable ground may give way in the deluge, leading to landslides.
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Rainfall through Sunday can total 50-100 mm (2-4 inches) from just south and east of Manila to Davao. Locally higher amounts will be possible.
Even in the absence of flooding problems, delays are likely on the road and in the air due to the heavy rainfall during the busy holiday season.
The newly formed weak low east of Visayas is not expected to develop into a depression or storm as it tracks northward parallel to the east coast of Visayas and Luzon over the next couple of days.
AccuWeather's team of international meteorologists expect that the disturbance over the Sulu Sea may still pose a threat for tropical development once it moves beyond the Philippines and into the South China Sea later Sunday, local time. Still, forecasters say the chance for development is low at this point.
"There has been some indication that this disturbance could try to become better organized over the South China Sea early next week," Zartman said.
Even if this disturbance becomes a depression or weak tropical storm over the South China Sea it is expected to weaken to a remnant low before nearing southern Vietnam later next week.
Interests in the Philippines as well as southern Vietnam should keep a close watch on this disturbance heading into next week.
Even in the wake of this tropical disturbance, showers and potentially a few drenching thunderstorms could linger across Palawan and eastern Luzon into Monday, further complicating any recovery efforts in the area.
The West Pacific Ocean basin is not the only basin where tropical activity is ramping up through next week. A new tropical storm in the southwestern Indian Ocean is expected to make landfall in Madagascar this weekend.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo
News / Hurricane
Downpours to renew flood threat in the Philippines as new tropical system brews
By Renee Duff, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Updated Dec 26, 2020 2:43 PM EDT
Lava glows at night during the Kilauea eruption on Dec. 22, on the big island of Hawaii. The U.S. Geological Survey captured this video of the lava "fountaining" early in the morning.
Forecasters warn that a slug of tropical moisture in the western Pacific Ocean will bring additional rounds of downpours to an already flood-battered Philippines through Sunday.
Some of the same areas that experienced deadly flooding and mudslides last week from then Tropical Depression Vicky, known internationally by the name Krovanh, will be in the line of fire of the latest round of tropical downpours. This can disrupt the ongoing recovery and cleanup efforts, as well as create new flooding and mudslide concerns.
"A pair of tropical disturbances will bring rounds of heavy rain to the southern and eastern Philippines through Sunday, local time," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jason Nicholls said.
"Downpours can result in flash flooding and mudslides, especially across those areas that have been recently impacted by Vicky (Krovanh)," Zartman said.
Since the ground is already saturated, it will not take much rainfall to instigate or renew flooding problems. Unstable ground may give way in the deluge, leading to landslides.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
Rainfall through Sunday can total 50-100 mm (2-4 inches) from just south and east of Manila to Davao. Locally higher amounts will be possible.
Even in the absence of flooding problems, delays are likely on the road and in the air due to the heavy rainfall during the busy holiday season.
The newly formed weak low east of Visayas is not expected to develop into a depression or storm as it tracks northward parallel to the east coast of Visayas and Luzon over the next couple of days.
AccuWeather's team of international meteorologists expect that the disturbance over the Sulu Sea may still pose a threat for tropical development once it moves beyond the Philippines and into the South China Sea later Sunday, local time. Still, forecasters say the chance for development is low at this point.
"There has been some indication that this disturbance could try to become better organized over the South China Sea early next week," Zartman said.
Even if this disturbance becomes a depression or weak tropical storm over the South China Sea it is expected to weaken to a remnant low before nearing southern Vietnam later next week.
Related:
Interests in the Philippines as well as southern Vietnam should keep a close watch on this disturbance heading into next week.
Even in the wake of this tropical disturbance, showers and potentially a few drenching thunderstorms could linger across Palawan and eastern Luzon into Monday, further complicating any recovery efforts in the area.
The West Pacific Ocean basin is not the only basin where tropical activity is ramping up through next week. A new tropical storm in the southwestern Indian Ocean is expected to make landfall in Madagascar this weekend.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo