Tropical Depression Ada weakens into LPA

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Depression Ada (Nokaen) weakened into a low pressure area (LPA) at 2 pm on Wednesday, January 21, as it neared the eastern boundary of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

The LPA that used to be Ada was last spotted 1,285 kilometers east of Central Luzon as of 4 pm on Wednesday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the LPA is moving southeast at 20 kilometers per hour (km/h).

It is no longer affecting the country and might just dissipate within 48 hours.

Ada, the Philippines’ first tropical cyclone for 2026, developed inside PAR last January 14.

At its peak, it was a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h, but it gradually weakened due to the surge of the northeast monsoon or amihan. Signal No. 2 was the highest tropical cyclone wind signal raised due to Ada.

Ada did not make landfall in the Philippines, but it triggered moderate to torrential rain in Caraga, Eastern Visayas, and Bicol last week, causing floods and landslides. At least two people were reported dead in Bicol.

On Wednesday evening, the northeast monsoon may bring light rain to parts of Luzon, but there will be “no significant impact.”

PAGASA added that the surge of the northeast monsoon will still bring strong to gale-force gusts to the following areas:

Wednesday, January 21

• most of Luzon, Visayas, Caraga, Davao Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi

Thursday, January 22

• most of Luzon, Visayas, Caraga, Davao Region, Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi

Friday, January 23

• most of Luzon, Visayas, Caraga, Davao Region, Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi

Conditions in certain seaboards also remain dangerous, with a gale warning issued on Wednesday afternoon due to the northeast monsoon.

Up to very rough seas (travel is risky for all vessels)

• Seaboards of Batanes, Babuyan Islands, mainland Cagayan, Isabela, and Ilocos Norte – waves up to 5 meters high
• Seaboards of Ilocos Sur and Aurora; northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands, Catanduanes, and Northern Samar; northern seaboards of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur; eastern seaboards of Albay, Sorsogon, Eastern Samar, Dinagat Islands, and Siargao-Bucas Grande Islands – waves up to 4.5 meters high

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

• Remaining seaboards of Ilocos Region; seaboard of northern mainland Quezon; western seaboard of Pangasinan – waves up to 4 meters high
• Seaboards of Zambales, Kalayaan Islands, and Surigao del Sur; eastern seaboards of Davao Oriental; remaining seaboards of Polillo Islands and Catanduanes – waves up to 3 meters high

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

• Seaboards of Caluya and Cuyo Islands – waves up to 2.5 meters high
• Seaboards of Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, Marinduque, and Antique; eastern seaboard of southeastern Iloilo; western seaboards of Bataan and northwestern Zamboanga del Norte; seaboards of Batangas; remaining seaboards of Palawan – waves up to 2 meters high

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Meanwhile, PAGASA is monitoring an LPA outside PAR, located 2,225 kilometers east of southeastern Mindanao as of 3 pm on Wednesday.

PAGASA Weather Specialist Benison Estareja said this LPA is unlikely to develop into a tropical depression, and it is also unlikely to enter PAR.

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