Domeng now a severe tropical storm

MANILA, Philippines – Domeng (Jangmi) intensified from a tropical storm into a severe tropical storm on Friday evening, May 29, with its maximum sustained winds increasing to 95 kilometers per hour (km/h).

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) also said Domeng’s gustiness is now up to 115 km/h.

The severe tropical storm was last spotted 1,045 kilometers east of Central Luzon as of 10 pm on Friday, moving west northwest at 15 km/h.

It is still projected to stay far from Philippine landmass, and may eventually recurve towards Japan.

But Domeng’s trough or extension is currently causing scattered rain and thunderstorms in Eastern Visayas, Sorsogon, and Masbate. Flash floods and landslides are possible.

PAGASA added that Domeng could strengthen further into a typhoon over the Philippine Sea by Saturday evening, May 30, and enhance the southwesterly windflow beginning Sunday, May 31.

The enhanced southwesterly windflow, which is the precursor of the southwest monsoon or habagat, is seen to bring heavy rain to the western portions of the country starting Sunday.

For now, it will continue to trigger scattered rain and thunderstorms in Western Visayas, the Negros Island Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Lanao del Norte, Palawan, and Occidental Mindoro.

Meanwhile, it remains “less likely” for tropical cyclone wind signals to be raised, given Domeng’s distance from land. 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 and the periphery or outer bands of the severe tropical storm will bring strong to gale-force gusts to these areas:

Saturday, May 30

• most of Visayas, Batanes, Cagayan, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, 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

In the next 24 hours, coastal conditions are expected to be risky in certain seaboards.

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

• Eastern seaboards of Batanes and Babuyan Islands – waves up to 3.5 meters high
• Remaining seaboards of Batanes; northern seaboard of Babuyan Islands; eastern seaboards of Cagayan, Isabela, and northern Aurora – waves up to 3 meters high

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

• Remaining seaboards of Babuyan Islands, Cagayan, and Aurora; northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands, Catanduanes, and Northern Samar; eastern seaboards of northern Quezon; northern seaboards of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur – waves up to 2.5 meters high
• Northern seaboards of Ilocos Norte and Camiguin; eastern seaboards of Eastern Samar, Dinagat Islands, and Davao Occidental; southern seaboard of Bohol; seaboards of Surigao del Norte; eastern and southern seaboards of Davao Oriental – waves up to 2 meters high

Domeng is likely to exit PAR on Monday, June 1. It is the country’s fourth tropical cyclone for 2026, and the second for May.

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