A distant tropical storm is already making its presence felt across the Philippines even without making landfall — as the weather trough of Tropical Storm Mekkhala (2607) drives elevated rainfall and flash flood risks over several provinces this Saturday, June 20, 2026. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) released its 24-hour public weather forecast at 4:00 AM Saturday, covering weather conditions valid through 4:00 AM on Sunday, June 21.
Though Mekkhala remains well beyond Philippine territory — positioned roughly 1,665 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon — its outer trough is already generating rain over parts of Eastern Visayas and northeastern Mindanao. Elsewhere, Pacific easterlies are driving isolated shower activity over much of Luzon, while the rest of the archipelago contends with localized thunderstorms.
Where Tropical Storm Mekkhala Stands Right Now
According to PAGASA, Tropical Storm Mekkhala was positioned at approximately 14.3°N, 138.4°E as of 3:00 AM Saturday — about 1,665 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon. The storm is packing maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h near its center, with gusts reaching up to 90 km/h, and is tracking west-northwestward at a forward speed of 25 km/h.
PAGASA confirmed that no tropical cyclone wind signal has been raised over any part of the country as of this forecast period. Nevertheless, the agency cautioned that the storm's trough — a low-pressure extension emanating from the cyclone — is already producing rainfall in Eastern Visayas and portions of northeastern Mindanao. PAGASA advised residents in affected areas to keep monitoring official weather bulletins, as the storm's projected path could bring it closer to the Philippine landmass in the days ahead.
Luzon Weather: Easterlies Bringing Showers to Urban Centers
Across most of Luzon, Saturday's weather will be governed by easterlies — moisture-laden winds sweeping in from the Pacific Ocean. PAGASA forecasts partly cloudy to cloudy conditions with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms for the following areas:
- Metro Manila
- Central Luzon — Pampanga, Bulacan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Zambales, and Aurora
- CALABARZON — Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon
- MIMAROPA — Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, and Romblon
- Bicol Region — Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon
Rain is not expected to be sustained or continuous throughout the day, but PAGASA warned that severe thunderstorm episodes could still bring flash floods or landslides — especially in low-lying communities, areas near riverbanks, or zones with steep terrain. Provinces in the Bicol Region and the eastern side of CALABARZON are naturally more exposed to Pacific weather systems and warrant extra vigilance.
Metro Manila will experience light to moderate winds blowing from the northeast to southeast direction. Wave heights along Luzon's coastal waters are projected at 0.6 to 1.2 meters — classified as slight to moderate — which PAGASA considers generally manageable for small sea vessels, though standard maritime precautions still apply.
Visayas: Eastern Provinces Bear Brunt of Mekkhala's Trough
The weather situation in the Visayas region is more acute than in Luzon, particularly along the eastern seaboard. PAGASA's forecast shows that the trough of Tropical Storm Mekkhala is directly influencing eastern portions of the region, producing cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over:
- Eastern Samar
- Southern Leyte
These two provinces carry the highest weather risk in the current forecast window. PAGASA specifically flagged the threat of flash floods and landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rainfall. Residents in mountainous interior barangays and low-lying coastal communities in these provinces are urged to remain on alert and to comply promptly with any evacuation orders issued by local government units.
The remainder of the Visayas — including Western Samar, Cebu, Bohol, Negros, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Antique, and Guimaras — is forecast to have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms stemming from localized weather systems. PAGASA noted that even these areas are not entirely free from flash flood or landslide risk during intense thunderstorm episodes.
Coastal sea conditions across the Visayas are expected to be slight to moderate, with wave heights ranging from 0.6 to 1.5 meters under light to moderate northeast to northwest winds.
Mindanao: Eastern Provinces on Heightened Alert
Mindanao faces a divided weather picture on Saturday. The eastern section of the island group falls under the direct influence of Mekkhala's trough, with cloudy skies, scattered rains, and thunderstorms expected over:
- Dinagat Islands
- Surigao del Norte
According to PAGASA, these two provinces share the same elevated threat level as Eastern Samar and Southern Leyte, with moderate to at times heavy rainfall raising the risk of flash floods and landslides. Surigao del Norte, which has historically experienced severe flooding during periods of enhanced tropical rainfall, faces particular concern this weekend.
The rest of Mindanao — covering Davao Region, Northern Mindanao, the Zamboanga Peninsula, SOCCSKSARGEN, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) — will see isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms driven by localized weather systems. Flash floods and landslides remain possible during severe storm episodes across these sub-regions as well.
PAGASA projects coastal waters in eastern Mindanao at slight to moderate, with wave heights of 0.6 to 1.5 meters under northeast to northwest winds. The western and southern portions of Mindanao will see southwest to west winds, with wave heights of 0.6 to 1.2 meters.
Temperature, Humidity, and Astronomical Data for Saturday
PAGASA's Science Garden weather station in Diliman, Quezon City logged a maximum temperature of 33.1°C at 11:00 AM on Friday and a minimum of 26.5°C at 6:00 AM. Relative humidity readings ranged from a high of 89% to a low of 57% — readings consistent with the warm, humid conditions that characterize the Philippine wet season in June.
For Metro Manila, Saturday's sunrise is at 5:28 AM and sunset at 6:27 PM. The moon rises at 10:28 AM and sets at 11:04 PM, with a 35% illumination corresponding to a waxing crescent phase — meaning minimal natural light will be available after dark.
Tidal data released by the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) for Manila Bay indicates a high tide of 1.29 meters at 1:41 PM and a low tide of 0.04 meters at 10:03 PM. NAMRIA's figures are especially relevant for coastal communities around Manila Bay, where the combination of heavy rain and high tide can amplify localized flooding conditions.
Key Safety Reminders for June 20
PAGASA's official forecast for Saturday highlights the following safety priorities for residents nationwide:
- Residents of Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Norte are at the greatest risk and should stay away from riverbanks, hillsides, and landslide-prone terrain during rainfall events.
- Metro Manila and its surrounding provinces may experience brief but intense rainfall bursts from isolated thunderstorms — motorists and commuters should anticipate possible localized flooding in low-lying streets and underpasses.
- Coastal communities and fisherfolk are advised to stay updated on sea condition forecasts before heading out to sea, even in areas where wave heights appear manageable.
- All residents nationwide should keep monitoring PAGASA's updated bulletins, as the track of Tropical Storm Mekkhala remains subject to change and its potential impact on the Philippines could evolve within the coming 24 to 72 hours.
PAGASA reminded the public that weather forecasts are updated regularly, and any significant changes in Mekkhala's track or intensity will be reflected in subsequent agency bulletins. The next forecast update is expected at 11:00 AM Saturday.
Originally reported by: Balita / breakingnewsnegor.com, sourced from PAGASA's official 24-hour public weather forecast issued June 20, 2026.