MANILA, Philippines — September 17, 2026 — Rainy weather is expected across much of the Visayas and several areas of Mindanao as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) interacts with a low pressure area (LPA) currently inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
The weather disturbance is raising the likelihood of scattered rains, thunderstorms and periods of moderate to occasionally heavy rainfall, particularly across southern and central parts of the country.
LPA Embedded Along the ITCZ
PAGASA said the LPA was located at around 125 kilometers east of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, at 3 a.m. Thursday.
The agency said the LPA is embedded along the ITCZ, a weather system that is currently affecting Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.
Despite the presence of the LPA, PAGASA said it has a low chance of developing into a tropical cyclone within the next 24 hours.
The immediate concern is therefore rainfall and thunderstorms rather than a developing typhoon.
Visayas, Mindanao Face More Rain
PAGASA forecast cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over the Visayas, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Northern Mindanao and Caraga.
Parts of southern and eastern Mindanao — including Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro and Davao Oriental — are also expected to experience scattered rains and thunderstorms.
The rest of Mindanao may see partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
PAGASA warned that moderate to occasionally heavy rainfall could trigger flash floods and landslides, particularly in areas vulnerable to flooding or where the ground is already saturated.
Luzon Not Completely Spared
Although the ITCZ is primarily affecting the southern portion of the country, rainy weather will not be limited to Visayas and Mindanao.
Batangas and Quezon are among the Luzon areas included in PAGASA’s forecast for scattered rains and thunderstorms.
Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon are expected to experience partly cloudy to cloudy conditions with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms associated mainly with localized thunderstorms.
Tropical Storm Dujuan Remains Outside PAR
Another weather system is also being monitored over the western Pacific.
PAGASA said Tropical Storm Dujuan was located approximately 2,970 kilometers east of Northern Luzon as of 3 a.m. Thursday, packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 90 kph.
The storm was moving north-northeastward at 20 kph and remained outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
PAGASA said Dujuan is not expected to enter the PAR based on the current forecast.
What Filipinos Should Watch
For communities across the Visayas and Mindanao, the main weather threat today is rainfall from the ITCZ and LPA combination, rather than a direct tropical cyclone threat.
Residents in flood-prone and landslide-prone communities should continue monitoring official PAGASA bulletins, especially when thunderstorms become persistent or rainfall becomes heavy.
Motorists and commuters should also prepare for sudden downpours that could reduce visibility and cause temporary flooding in low-lying areas.
The weather situation remains dynamic, and PAGASA may issue additional advisories if the LPA changes in strength, movement or organization.
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