Former Tropical Depression Neneng has redeveloped into a tropical depression outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, packing winds of 55 kilometers per hour. State meteorologists reported the shift on August 23, 2026, as the system interacts with distant Typhoon Saudel while the southwest monsoon continues to bring rainfall across parts of Luzon and the Visayas.
Tropical Depression Neneng Redevelops Outside PAR
One of the low-pressure areas previously monitored outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility has regained tropical depression strength. State weather bureau officials reported that the system, which originally developed as Tropical Depression Neneng earlier in the month, redeveloped into a tropical depression outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility. The system carries the current international name Gaenari.
The redeveloped storm was located 660 kilometers north-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes. It is packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour with gustiness reaching up to 70 kilometers per hour, moving slowly in a northwestward direction.
This revival follows a weakening trend from earlier in the week. Tropical Depression Neneng weakened into a low pressure area at 2 pm on Thursday, August 20, then exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility. As of 4 pm, the LPA that used to be Neneng was already 480 kilometers north of Itbayat, Batanes. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration said in its 5 pm bulletin that the LPA or remnant low will head for the East China Sea. PAGASA added that the possibility of redevelopment into a tropical depression within the coming days is not ruled out,
as current conditions are favorable for the remnant low to regain strength. As a tropical depression, Neneng’s maximum sustained winds had peaked at just 55 kilometers per hour. It also stayed far from Philippine landmass, and had no direct impact on the country. However, it enhanced the southwest monsoon or habagat in the past couple of days, after developing last Tuesday, August 18. Neneng was the Philippines’ 14th tropical cyclone for 2026, and the third tropical cyclone for August, after Tropical Depression Luis and Tropical Storm Maymay (Kujira).
Fujiwhara Effect and Typhoon Saudel Interaction
The newly redeveloped storm is not acting in isolation. Forecasters are tracking a complex interaction between the system and a much larger storm currently positioned far to the east.
Typhoon Saudel was located 2,555 kilometers east of northern Luzon, moving northwestward at 15 kilometers per hour outside the monitoring boundary. It packs formidable winds of 150 kilometers per hour with gustiness up to 185 kilometers per hour.
Daniel James Villamil, PAGASA weather specialist, said Saudel and the tropical depression have a binary interaction or Fujiwhara effect. Saudel will pull the center of the tropical depression, which could possibly intensify as a tropical storm in the coming days. However, it will eventually dissipate as it gets absorbed by the stronger circulation of Typhoon Saudel,
Villamil said.
Southwest Monsoon Rains Persist Across Luzon and Visayas
Even though Neneng and its successors have remained far from the country’s landmass, their presence continues to drive active weather patterns over domestic territory. State meteorologists confirmed that the southwest monsoon, locally known as habagat, remains a primary driver for regional rainfall. With Neneng weakening into an LPA and moving farther away, the effects of the southwest monsoon also eased starting Thursday. By 11 am, PAGASA said significant rainfall was no longer expected from the southwest monsoon. The weather bureau’s 4 pm forecast, meanwhile, shows the Ilocos Region and other areas experiencing changes as conditions shifted.
Earlier in the week, monsoon rains were expected over Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro. The Habagat was also forecast to bring occasional rains over Metro Manila, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Benguet, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Laguna, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas, and Oriental Mindoro. Further, the monsoon was expected to bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over the rest of Luzon, Antique, and Aklan, while localized thunderstorms brought partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers.
Tracking Additional Systems Across the Region
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration continues monitoring multiple active weather disturbances across regional domains. Another tropical depression outside PAR was located 1,055 kms east of Eastern Visayas, with winds of 45 kph and gusts of 55 kph.
Earlier observations also tracked a tropical cyclone located 670 km west of Calayan, Cagayan, which PAGASA noted would not directly affect the country, alongside another system estimated 3,090 km east of Northeastern Mindanao.
