Wildfires
British Columbia is enduring one of its most intense wildfire stretches of the season, with approximately 130 fires burning province-wide and nearly half classified as out of control. More than 5,000 people received new evacuation orders in the past 24 hours alone as roughly 30 fresh fires ignited amid record-level drought and what officials describe as “explosive” fire behavior. The Pear Lake fire near Clinton, B.C., has been especially destructive: a regional district official confirmed that structures have been destroyed on about 120 properties, with local leaders separately estimating the toll at closer to 230 homes lost in what one community leader called “devastation.” The province has called in reinforcements from Mexico and Australia along with crews from other Canadian provinces, and more than 500 contractors and 130 helicopters are now engaged in suppression efforts; a brief cooldown is expected over the next two days, though forecasters warn a return to hot, dry conditions could reignite explosive fire growth.
Tropical Storm Kujira Bears Down on Northern Luzon as “Maymay,” Landfall Expected Today
Orbis Weather Staff — August 5, 2026
A tropical storm that formed off the Philippine coast earlier this week has strengthened and is on track to make landfall over Northern Luzon later today, prompting wind signals across a wide stretch of the northern Philippines.
The system, tracked internationally by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) as Tropical Storm Kujira, entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility and was assigned the local name Maymay by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). It is the same storm under both names — JMA assigns the international designation used across the Western Pacific basin, while PAGASA names systems separately once they move into Philippine waters.
Current Position and Intensity
As of the latest available advisories, Maymay/Kujira was located approximately 170 kilometers west of Bacnotan, La Union, moving slowly westward. The storm was carrying maximum sustained winds of about 65 kph (35 knots) near its center, with gusts up to 80 kph, and a central pressure of 998 hectopascals. The system has been slow-moving, which has allowed it time to organize and intensify from a tropical depression into a tropical storm over the past two days.
Track and Landfall
PAGASA’s forecast track has the storm making landfall over Ilocos Sur or La Union province later today, with the exact timing estimated for the afternoon or evening. After landfall, the system is expected to track generally eastward across Northern and Central Luzon before weakening. Forecasters expect Maymay to degrade to a tropical depression by Thursday morning as interaction with land disrupts its circulation.
As with any landfalling track forecast, the exact path and timing carry uncertainty that narrows as the storm gets closer to shore — residents in and near the warned areas should continue monitoring official updates rather than relying on any single snapshot of the forecast.
Wind Signals in Effect
PAGASA has raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 (winds of 62–88 kph expected within 24 hours) over central and southern Ilocos Sur, northern and central La Union, northwestern Pangasinan, southwestern Abra, western Mountain Province, and northwestern Benguet.
Signal No. 1 (winds of 39–61 kph expected within 36 hours) extends further, covering the remainder of Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan, along with Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, and the northern portions of Zambales, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, and Aurora.
Rainfall and Sea Conditions
PAGASA is forecasting 100 to 200 millimeters of rain over La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, and Zambales, with 50 to 100 millimeters expected over surrounding areas. Combined with the ongoing southwest monsoon (habagat), which the storm is enhancing, localized flooding and landslides are possible in mountainous and low-lying areas alike.
A gale warning is in effect for coastal waters, with very rough seas of up to 4.5 meters forecast off Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan. Small craft and coastal communities in these areas face elevated risk through landfall.
What to Watch Next
Because Maymay/Kujira is a slow-moving system interacting with both land and an active monsoon trough, rainfall totals and flood risk may end up mattering more than the storm’s peak winds. Orbis Weather will continue pulling updates directly from PAGASA and JMA as new advisories are issued.
This report reflects the most recent official advisories available at the time of publication. Tropical cyclone forecasts are updated frequently and can change with little notice — residents in or near the affected areas should follow real-time updates and any evacuation guidance issued directly by PAGASA and local disaster-risk-reduction offices, not rely solely on this article.
Sources: PAGASA severe weather bulletins; Japan Meteorological Agency; Philippine news reporting (Rappler, Philstar) citing PAGASA advisories.