On August 17, 2026, Metro Manila and nearby provinces were drenched by intense rains brought by strong habagat, causing widespread flooding and major disruptions.

The strong habagat carried large amounts of moisture toward western parts of the country and helped organize the rain clouds.

Some areas received 200-400 mm of rain in just one week, about as much as most places would normally get in an entire August.

Consecutive days of persistent habagat rains had already saturated many areas, making flooding more likely and more severe by August 17.

On August 17, about a week’s worth of normal August rainfall was recorded in just six hours (8:00AM-2:00PM), at the PAGASA Science Garden Station, Quezon City, corresponding to a return period between 5 to 10 years.

PAGASA has emphasized that the ongoing El Niño can increase the likelihood of above-normal rainfall over the western Philippines during the habagat season.

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