Tropical Depression Verbena formed early Monday over the Philippine Sea, bringing the threat of widespread rainfall to areas still recovering from recent flooding, according to the state weather bureau PAGASA.
The system is forecast to move westward and make landfall near Siargao Island, crossing Leyte, Samar and Cebu through Tuesday before exiting toward the Sulu Sea. While Verbena is not expected to intensify rapidly, forecasters warned that the depression will produce significant rainfall as it interacts with the Northeast Monsoon and an active shear line over northern Luzon.
PAGASA raised Signal No. 1 in several provinces along the storm’s projected path. Local governments in the Visayas and northern Mindanao announced class suspensions, while the coast guard ordered the cancellation of some ferry trips.
Officials emphasized that Verbena does not resemble the destructive Typhoon Tino, which brought deadly flooding earlier this month. “This system does not have the time or structure to intensify the way Tino did,” meteorologist Robert Speta said, noting that disorganized tropical depressions combined with monsoon flow often produce hazardous, prolonged rainfall.
Emergency shelters across Cebu and Eastern Visayas remain occupied as communities continue recovering from Tino’s impacts.
Forecasters said the heaviest rain in the coming days may occur far from Verbena’s center. Moisture pulled in by the circulation is expected to enhance rainfall along the eastern seaboard, including Samar, Leyte, Cebu, the Bicol region, and parts of southern Luzon. Northern Luzon, already under a shear line for several days, could see an additional 100 to 200 millimeters of rain in Cagayan and Isabela, where rivers remain swollen.
After crossing Palawan, the system may intensify over the West Philippine Sea, though the Philippines will no longer be directly affected by its core circulation by that stage.
Vietnam, already suffering deadly floods linked to the same monsoonal surge, may face additional rainfall once Verbena enters the South China Sea later this week. More than 50 deaths have been reported there in recent days.
PAGASA urged the public to monitor official advisories and remain alert for possible flooding and landslides, particularly in mountainous and low-lying areas.