Just as Makati and P. Burgos were finding their rhythm again over the weekend, the sky is about to change its mind. As of Sunday (August 23), the southwest monsoon (habagat) is still soaking Metro Manila, and on Monday (August 24) Typhoon Saudel is expected to enter the country’s monitoring area and give that rain another push. For this week, treat a dry night as a bonus and plan every night out on the assumption that it will rain.

For the pressure systems, storm track and rainfall figures, our sister site Manila Joho-kyoku Lab is following the bigger picture. Check the nationwide weather there. Here we stick to one thing only: how to actually move around the nightlife districts.

Tonight through midweek: the trickiest hours

Habagat rain tends to peak in the late afternoon and evening — exactly when you head out to drink. From Monday, Saudel’s influence stacks on top of that, so Tuesday and Wednesday nights are hard to read too. If you can shift a plan by a day, aim for whenever the rain eases off.

Thinking area by area

In Makati, the side streets around P. Burgos and the lower stretches toward Buendia flood easily. After heavy rain, water can reach the doorstep of a venue, which makes bar-hopping from place to place a pain. This week we suggest keeping everything inside one area. Pick a cluster close to your hotel, and even if you get stranded mid-night you can still walk back.

Planning to head over to Malate? Brace for jams and flooding along EDSA and Roxas Boulevard. Crossing between areas becomes almost impossible to time on a wet night.

Getting around after dark

When it rains, Grab gets scarce and prices spike. Don’t wait until you leave the venue to book — start arranging your ride while you’re still inside. Street taxis often skip the meter in this weather, so agree on the fare before you get in. Avoid any car that plows into flooded roads; where the water is above the knee, choosing to wait is a perfectly good call.

On venue hours

With heavy rain or a nearing typhoon, some venues open late or close early. To avoid showing up to a locked door, message your target bar ahead of time. Especially from Monday, expect more places to adjust hours on the day.

What to carry this week

A folding umbrella, sandals you don’t mind soaking, and cash split into small amounts in a waterproof pouch. Charge your phone early in case of outages. The city bounces back fast once the weather clears — but for the first half of this week, staying in is also a perfectly respectable way to spend the night.