Luzon braces for continued downpours as monsoon rains persist

MANILA — Heavy rainfall warnings stayed in effect over several parts of Luzon on Friday afternoon as the southwest monsoon, locally known as habagat, maintained its grip on the archipelago, the state weather bureau reported.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration issued the advisory at 2 p.m., cautioning residents across multiple provinces to prepare for sustained wet conditions throughout the day.

Authorities warned of possible flash flooding in low-lying communities and terrain-prone areas as waterways continued to rise from the persistent downpours. Residents were urged to avoid crossing swollen streams and to move to higher ground if necessary.

The monsoon system, which typically brings heavy precipitation to western portions of Luzon during this season, was expected to influence weather patterns through the weekend. Local government units were placed on standby to respond to weather-related incidents as rainfall intensity fluctuated across the affected provinces.

Weather officials advised the public to monitor updates for any changes to current warnings and to heed all notices from local disaster management offices.