Tropical Storm Domeng now inside PAR

MANILA, Philippines – The tropical storm with the international name Jangmi entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at 12:30 am on Friday, May 29, and was given the local name Domeng.

It is the country’s fourth tropical cyclone for 2026, and the second for May.

As of 4 am on Friday, Domeng was located 1,345 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon, moving northwest at 20 kilometers per hour (km/h).

The tropical storm maintained its strength, with maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h and gustiness of up to 90 km/h.

But the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Domeng may intensify into a severe tropical storm on Friday, and subsequently into a typhoon on Saturday, May 30.

Domeng is not expected to make landfall in the Philippines, but its trough or extension might cause scattered rain and thunderstorms in Eastern Visayas and Caraga on Friday. Flash floods and landslides are possible during periods of moderate to heavy rain.

The province of Agusan del Sur, located in the Caraga region, is hosting the 2026 Palarong Pambansa until Sunday, May 31.

PAGASA added that Domeng will enhance the southwesterly windflow, which could trigger heavy rain in the western portions of the country starting Sunday. The weather bureau may issue a separate advisory on Saturday, containing the specific areas to be affected.

On Friday, the southwesterly windflow — the precursor of the southwest monsoon or habagat — will also continue to bring scattered rain and thunderstorms to Western Visayas, the Negros Island Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Lanao del Norte, and Palawan.

Meanwhile, since Domeng will remain far from landmass, it is “less likely” for tropical cyclone wind signals to be raised. But PAGASA is not ruling out the possibility of extreme Northern Luzon being placed under a wind signal.

The weather bureau also said the enhancement of the southwesterly windflow will bring strong to gale-force gusts to these areas:

Saturday, May 30

• most of Visayas, Batanes, Cagayan, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque, Masbate, Albay, Sorsogon, Palawan, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Sarangani, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental

Sunday, May 31

• most of Visayas, Batanes, Cagayan, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Agusan del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Sarangani, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental

On Friday, the eastern seaboards of Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, and Dinagat Islands, as well as the eastern and southern seaboards of Davao Oriental, may have up to moderate seas or waves up to 2 meters high. PAGASA advised small vessels to take precautionary measures, or to avoid sailing altogether, if possible.

Domeng is likely to exit PAR on Monday, June 1.

PAGASA is expected to soon declare the start of the rainy season, which typically begins in the second half of May or the first half of June. – Rappler.com