Ada weakens into tropical depression due to northeast monsoon

MANILA, Philippines – Ada (Nokaen) weakened from a tropical storm into a tropical depression before dawn on Monday, January 19, due to the surge of the northeast monsoon or amihan.

In its 5 am bulletin on Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Ada’s maximum sustained winds are down to 55 kilometers per hour from 65 km/h. Its gustiness is now up to 70 km/h from the previous 80 km/h.

PAGASA added that Ada could weaken further into a low pressure area by Wednesday, January 21, or even earlier, as cold and dry air from the northeast monsoon continues to enter its circulation.

The tropical depression was already 380 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora, as of 4 am on Monday. It slightly slowed down, moving north northeast at 10 km/h from 15 km/h.

Ada is still projected to follow a looping track over the sea east of Luzon.

Ada did not make landfall in the Philippines, but it triggered moderate to torrential rain in Caraga, Eastern Visayas, and Bicol, causing floods and landslides. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said on Monday morning that two people have been reported dead and two others injured, all in Bicol.

On Monday, the trough or extension of the tropical depression may still bring scattered rain and thunderstorms to Bicol, Aurora, Quezon, and Northern Samar.

Signal No. 2 was the highest tropical cyclone wind signal raised due to Ada. Wind signals were completely lifted on Sunday evening, January 18, but the periphery of the tropical depression and the northeast monsoon will continue bringing strong to gale-force gusts to these areas:

Monday, January 19

• Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Aurora, Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Northern Samar

Tuesday, January 20

• Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Aurora, Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Surigao del Sur

Wednesday, January 21

• Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Region, Abra, Aurora, Bulacan, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Cebu, Antique, Aklan, Iloilo, Guimaras, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Davao Oriental

Storm surge warnings were also lifted on Sunday evening.

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Meanwhile, here is the weather bureau’s latest outlook for sea conditions on Monday.

Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea)

• Seaboard of Isabela; eastern seaboard of mainland Cagayan – waves up to 4 meters high
• Eastern seaboards of Batanes and Babuyan Islands; seaboard of northern Aurora; northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands; northern seaboards of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, and Catanduanes – waves up to 3.5 meters high
• Seaboards of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur; western seaboard of Pangasinan; eastern seaboard of Catanduanes; remaining seaboards of Batanes and Babuyan Islands – waves up to 3 meters high

Up to moderate seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible)

• Remaining seaboard of Aurora; seaboard of northern mainland Quezon; western seaboard of Polillo Islands; eastern seaboards of Albay, Sorsogon, and Eastern Samar; northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar – waves up to 2.5 meters high
• Seaboard of Zambales; remaining seaboard of Ilocos Region – waves up to 2 meters high

Ada is the Philippines’ first tropical cyclone for 2026.

PAGASA expects two to eight tropical cyclones to form within or enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility in the first half of 2026. These are the estimates per month:

• January – 0 or 1
• February – 0 or 1
• March – 0 or 1
• April – 0 or 1
• May – 1 or 2
• June – 1 or 2

– Rappler.com