(Photo courtesy of PAGASA)
MANILA – Tropical storm Auring has further weakened on Saturday and is slowly moving further northwestward until it makes landfall over the Dinagat-Homonhon-Leyte area on Sunday evening or early Monday.
In its 5 p.m. severe weather bulletin update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said “Auring’s” position was last estimated at 440 kilometers (kms) east southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, is moving at 15 km per hour (km/h), has maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 80 km/h.
“'Auring' is more likely to weaken to a tropical depression before it makes landfall over Caraga. It will likely further weaken to Low-Pressure Area by Monday due to significant terrain interaction and persistent vertical wind shear during this passage over the archipelago,” PAGASA said.
It warned of light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Caraga and Eastern Visayas until Saturday night.
In the next 24 hours, it said the combined effects of the surge of the northeast monsoon and “Auring” will bring gale-force winds over areas where Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal number 1 (TCWS no. 1) is in effect.
To date, TCWS no. 1 is raised over the southeastern portion of Masbate (Cataingan, Cawayan, Dimasalang, Esperanza, Palanas, Pio V. Corpuz, and Placer) in Luzon.
In the Visayas, TCWS no. 1 is raised over Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Bohol, Siquijor, and the northern portion of Negros Occidental.
In Mindanao, TCWS no. 1 is also raised over the Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao City, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, and Bukidnon.
It advised residents of these areas to inspect their houses and fix what is necessary, clean up drainage systems, harvest crops that can be yielded, and monitor updates from PAGASA every six hours. (PNA)
