LPA east of Mindanao develops into Tropical Depression Ada

MANILA, Philippines – The low pressure area (LPA) inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) developed into a tropical depression at 8 am on Wednesday, January 14, becoming the country’s first tropical cyclone for 2026.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) assigned the local name Ada to the newly formed tropical depression.

The last time the country had a tropical cyclone in January was in 2019 — Tropical Depression Amang.

As of 10 am on Wednesday, Ada was located 635 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, moving northwest over the Philippine Sea at a relatively fast 35 kilometers per hour (km/h).

So far, the tropical depression has maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h and gustiness of up to 55 km/h. But it is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm within 24 hours.

Ada could pass close to or make landfall in Eastern Visayas as a tropical storm on Friday, January 16, or early Saturday morning, January 17, then in Catanduanes on Saturday or Sunday, January 18, before recurving northeast over the sea east of Luzon.

In its initial rainfall outlook for Ada released at 11 am on Wednesday, PAGASA warned Caraga, Eastern Visayas, and Bicol to expect significant rain from the tropical depression in the coming days. Floods and landslides are likely.

Wednesday noon, January 14, to Thursday noon, January 15

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 millimeters): Eastern Samar, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur

Thursday noon, January 15, to Friday noon, January 16

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Northern Samar, Eastern Samar
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte

Friday noon, January 16, to Saturday noon, January 17

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Samar, Biliran, Leyte

Rain in Bicol could be particularly problematic due to the restiveness of Albay’s Mayon Volcano. The volcano remains under Alert Level 3.

Also as of 11 am on Wednesday, the following provinces were placed under Signal No. 1, which means they have lead time of 36 hours to prepare for strong winds from Ada:

• Northern Samar
• Samar
• Eastern Samar
• Dinagat Islands
• Surigao del Norte
• Surigao del Sur

The highest possible tropical cyclone wind signal due to Ada is Signal No. 2.

The northeast monsoon or amihan and the periphery of the tropical depression may also bring strong to gale-force gusts to these areas:

Wednesday, January 14

• Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Abra, northern and eastern mainland Cagayan, eastern Isabela, eastern Bulacan, Aurora, most of Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Sorsogon

Thursday, January 15

• Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, northern and eastern mainland Cagayan, eastern Isabela, Aurora, most of Calabarzon, Lubang Islands, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Cuyo Islands, Bicol, Central Visayas

Friday, January 16

• Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, northern and eastern mainland Cagayan, eastern Isabela, Aurora, most of Calabarzon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque, Bicol, most of Visayas, most of Caraga

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PAGASA also warned of moderate to rough seas in certain seaboards.

Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea)

• Seaboards of Ilocos Norte and Camarines Norte; northern seaboard of Camarines Sur; northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes, Northern Samar, and Siargao-Bucas Grande Islands; eastern seaboards of Albay, Sorsogon, Eastern Samar, and Dinagat Islands – waves up to 4 meters high
• Seaboards of Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Aurora, northern mainland Quezon, and Surigao del Sur; eastern seaboard of mainland Cagayan; northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands – waves up to 3.5 meters high
• Seaboards of Batanes and Ilocos Sur; eastern seaboard of Davao Oriental; remaining seaboard of mainland Cagayan – waves up to 3 meters high

Up to moderate seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible)

• Eastern seaboard of Davao Occidental; remaining seaboards of Ilocos Region – waves up to 2 meters high

The weather bureau expects two to eight tropical cyclones to form within or enter PAR in the first half of 2026. These are the estimates per month:

• January – 0 or 1
• February – 0 or 1
• March – 0 or 1
• April – 0 or 1
• May – 1 or 2
• June – 1 or 2

– Rappler.com