Metro Manila gets 44% of Ondoy’s rainfall in just 5 hours
MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila absorbed 201.7 millimeters of rain in just five hours Monday, flooding roads and pushing water into areas some residents described as rarely inundated, while another round of habagat rain keeps the capital under flood threat Tuesday.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, citing PAGASA's Science Garden station in Quezon City, said the rainfall was recorded from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on August 17.
More than two-thirds of the five-hour total, or 138 mm, fell within just two hours from noon to 2 p.m.
The concentrated downpour caused water levels to rise rapidly and flooded several roads across Metro Manila, the MMDA said.
For comparison, Tropical Storm Ondoy dumped 455 mm of rain over 24 hours in 2009. Monday's five-hour rainfall total was equivalent to about 44% of that amount.
The MMDA deployed flood control teams to affected roads to clear clogged drainage systems and help floodwaters recede.
Flooding in unexpected places
Images and accounts shared online showed flooding reaching areas where some residents said they had rarely seen water rise to such levels.
One social media user said it was the first time they had seen a flooded section of EDSA-Shaw reach that extent, Interaksyon reported.
In Quezon City, another resident said a rain garden at a condominium complex in Vertis North came close to overflowing.
Flooding was also reported in nearby Antipolo City in Rizal, including along Sen. L. Sumulong Memorial Circle and near SM Masinag.
More rain Tuesday
Yet the flood threat has not passed. PAGASA placed Metro Manila under a yellow rainfall warning as of 8 a.m. Tuesday, meaning flooding was possible in flood-prone areas.
The weather bureau forecast 50 to 100 mm of rain over Metro Manila on Tuesday due to the southwest monsoon.
Another 50 to 100 mm may fall over the capital on Wednesday.
PAGASA warned that the effects of additional rainfall may be worsened by significant rain that has already fallen.
Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas and Occidental Mindoro, meanwhile, face heavier rainfall of 100 to 200 mm on Tuesday.
PAGASA said numerous flooding events are likely in areas receiving that amount of rain, particularly in urbanized and low-lying communities and places near rivers.
Malacañang earlier ordered schools in Metro Manila and 14 provinces to shift to alternative learning modes Tuesday, while government offices were directed to adopt alternative work arrangements because of the continuous heavy rain. — with Jeline Malasig and John Marwin Elao
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