Tropical storms Kujira and Peilou

Kujira

On July 29, PAGASA began monitoring a low-pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), noting that it was unlikely to develop into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours while located approximately 2,930 km (1,820 mi) east of Eastern Visayas.^[3] On July 31, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported that a low-pressure area had formed and subsequently upgraded the system to a tropical depression.^[4][5] The agency then classified it as a tropical depression on the following day, at 12:00 UTC, as the system became stationary.^[6] That same time, PAGASA followed suit, assigning it the name Luis.^[7][8] By 18:00 UTC, the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) began tracking the system, noting that convection was occurring in an environment of low to moderate wind shear, warm sea surface temperatures, and good equatorward outflow aloft.^[9] The system then started to slowly move westwards along the southern periphery of a mid-level subtropical high.^[10] Early on August 2, microwave imagery displayed active convective cloud clusters around the cloud system center (CSC).^[11]By 06:00 UTC, Luis began shifting northwestwards, while maintaining its intensity due to the limited firmness of its structure.^[12] The JMA issued their final warning on the system by 18:00 UTC.^[13] However, at 19:30 UTC, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) for the system, citing a possible chance of developing into a tropical cyclone within 12 to 24 hours, although it was inside unfavorable conditions for development due to moderate vertical wind shear and dry air.^[14] The system made landfall over Maconacon, Isabela on August 3 at 17:30 PHT (9:30 UTC).^[15] Later at 20:00 PHT (12:00 UTC), PAGASA downgraded Luis into an LPA.^[16][17]

The system later split into two, the original system merged with the second system a few hours later.^[18] The JMA also started issuing warnings for the second system at the same time. The JTWC also upgraded its chances to high and issued a TCFA again after it moved into more favorable conditions.^[19] At 20:00 PHT (12:00 UTC), the disturbance developed into a tropical depression and was retrospectively renamed Maymay by PAGASA.^[20][21] At 18:00 UTC, both the JMA and PAGASA upgraded it to a tropical storm and JTWC upgraded it to a tropical depression, therefore being assigned the name Kujira by JMA^[22] and the designation 13W from JTWC, respectively.^[23] Early on August 6, at 02:00 PHT (18:00 UTC of the previous day), Kujira made its second landfall over Magsingal, Ilocos Sur.^[24] Later, the JMA, JTWC and PAGASA all downgraded the system to a tropical depression^[25] and JMA later stated it dissipated. The following day, the system weakened into an remnant low over the Philippine sea^[26][27] and later it dissipated according to PAGASA.^[28] Kujira was later absorbed into Typhoon Dolphin and became a trough.^{[citation needed]}

Peilou

On August 8, the trough split from Typhoon Dolphin and the JMA upgraded it to a tropical depression.^[29] Later that day, the JTWC followed suit, but its designation was kept the same as that of Kujira, stating that it is a redevelopment of Kujira.^[30] PAGASA later followed suit, classifying it as a depression as well.^[31] On August 9, both the JMA and PAGASA upgraded the system into a tropical storm, with the system being assigned the name Peilou by the JMA.^[32][33] The JTWC later followed suit and continued the sequence of bulletins and track forecasts previously issued for Kujira.^[34] Peilou slowly intensified, reaching 85 km/h and a central pressure of 992 mbar on August 10 at 12:00 UTC.^[35] But it reached unfavorable conditions later that day and downgraded into a tropical depression according to the JTWC.^[36] The JMA followed suit on August 12, downgrading Peilou to a tropical depression on its final prognostic reasoning of the system.^[37][38] The following day, the JMA downgraded the system to an LPA.^[39][40] Later that day, the JTWC noted that it began extratropical transition, still classifying it as a tropical depression.^[41] On August 14, the JMA noted that fronts had developed on the system.^[42][43] Later that day, the JMA reported that the system crossed the anti-meridian.^[44][45]

Kujira

Late on August 1, at 23:00 PHT (15:00 UTC), PAGASA issued Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 in the Polillo Islands, and the northern portions of Camarines Norte and Catanduanes.^[46] On the following day, Signal No. 1 was issued in the entire province of Catanduanes, and the northern portion of Camarines Sur at 05:00 PHT (21:00 UTC of the previous day).^[47] Signal No. 1 was further extended to Isabela, Quirino, the northern portion of Aurora, and the southern portion of Cagayan at 23:00 PHT (15:00 UTC),^[48] On August 3, at 02:00 PHT (18:00 UTC of the previous day), Signal No. 1 was extended again to the eastern portions of Cagayan, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province, and the eastern and southern portions of Apayao.^[49]At 17:00 PHT (09:00 UTC), Signal No. 1 was further issued in the eastern and southern portions of the Babuyan Islands.^[50] All wind signals were halted at 23:00 PHT (15:00 UTC) as PAGASA downgraded it into an LPA.^[17]

On August 2, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Catanduanes temporarily suspended sea travel to and from the province, while deployable response groups were activated for them to immediately respond to maritime emergencies.^[51] On August 3, the PCG station in Occidental Mindoro activated its Deployable Response Group in anticipation of the system's possible effects, as its personnel, rescue assets and equipment, and humanitarian assistance are accordingly on standby.^[52] Residents of Tuba, Benguet were advised to prepare emergency go-bags and to monitor official PAGASA and municipal advisories. Water-related activities and small-scale mining operations were also suspended in the municipality.^[53] The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) stockpiled at least 4.9 million family food packs that are prepositioned across more than 1,000 warehouses in the country.^[54] On August 4 at 23:00 PHT (15:00 UTC), PAGASA issued signal 1 warnings at much of the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, the western portions of Cagayan Valley, and the northern portions of Central Luzon.^[21] The following day at 5:00 PHT (21:00 UTC on August 4), PAGASA raised signal 2 warnings at the central portion of the Ilocos region and the western portions of the Cordillera Administrative region as the system got upgraded to a tropical storm, with signal 1 warnings being issued at the rest of the Ilocos Region and Cagayan Valley, as well as the northern portion of Central Luzon.^[55]

Heavy rainfall was expected to hit the country, with orange rainfall warnings put in place at Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, and Zambales. Meanwhile, yellow rainfall warnings were issued over much of Luzon, including Metro Manila.^[56] Sea travel was halted in Aurora, Cagayan, and Zambales as the system was anticipated to bring rough sea conditions.^[57][58][59] A gale warning was put in place across the western seaboard of Northern Luzon, along with waves of up to 5 meters being forecasted along the coast of Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan. Government work and classes of all levels were suspended in Abra, Benguet, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Metro Manila, Pangasinan, and Zambales.^[60] Kujira caused heavy rainfall that triggered landslides and rockfalls. In Aurora province, rocks were loosened from the continuous rainfall and obstructed traffic on a road in Barangay Dianed, Dipaculao.^[61] Affected families were reported in Bicol, Zamboanga, and BARMM, with seven areas getting flooded in Zamboanga Peninsula and BARMM.^[62]

In total, 23 people died and 17 were injured as a result of the storm and the southwest monsoon, with Benguet reporting the most fatalities at 15.^[63] The system in tandem with the southwest monsoon brought more than a week's rain in two days over northern and Central Luzon. In Baguio City, eleven days' worth of August rain amounting to 355.2mm fell from August 5 to August 7.^[64] Over 5 million people were affected as a result of the storm and enhanced southwest monsoon.^[63] The Department of Agriculture (DA) reported that the rains from the system combined with the southwest monsoon caused ₱689.66 million in agricultural damages,^[65] with Oriental and Occidental Mindoro reporting ₱56 million and ₱21.86 million respectively.^[66][67] Infrastructure damage from the storm and southwest monsoon was estimated to be ₱3.3 billion, with at least 1,800 houses being damaged.^[68]