(PNA file photo)
MANILA – The low pressure area (LPA) east of Surigao del Sur has developed into Tropical Depression Kabayan on Sunday, prompting the weather bureau to raise Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 over several areas in Visayas and Mindanao.
In its 5 a.m. forecast, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) hoisted TCWS No. 1 over the following areas:
- Southern portion of Samar (Basey, Santa Rita, Marabut)
- Southern portion of Eastern Samar (Maydolong, City of Borongan, Quinapondan, Guiuan, Lawaan, Balangiga, Llorente, Giporlos, Salcedo, Balangkayan, General Macarthur, Hernani, Mercedes)
- Eastern and southern portions of Leyte (Mahaplag, Abuyog, Javier, Macarthur, Tabontabon, La Paz, Mayorga, Tolosa, Tanauan, Julita, Dulag, Palo, Tacloban City, Babatngon, Matalom, Hilongos, Bato)
- Southern Leyte
- Dinagat Islands
- Surigao del Norte
- Surigao del Sur
- Agusan del Norte
- Northern and eastern portions of Agusan del Sur (Bunawan, San Francisco, City of Bayugan, Esperanza, Talacogon, Rosario, Sibagat, Prosperidad, San Luis, Trento)
- Northern portion of Davao Oriental (Boston, Cateel)
- Eastern portion of Misamis Oriental (Gingoog City, Magsaysay, Medina, Talisayan, Balingoan, Kinoguitan)
- Camiguin
At 3 a.m., PAGASA located the center of Kabayan 535 kilometers east of Davao City, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 70 km/h. It is moving westward at 10 km/h.
“Kabayan is forecast to follow a generally west northwestward path across the Philippine archipelago over the next two days and is likely to maintain its strength until its initial landfall over Mindanao. However, the possibility of reaching tropical storm category pre-landfall is not ruled out,” PAGASA said.
In the track forecast, the weather bureau said it is likely to make landfall along the coast of Surigao del Sur or Davao Oriental Sunday night or Monday early morning, cross the rugged terrain of Mindanao before emerging over either the Bohol Sea or Sulu Sea Monday noon or afternoon.
PAGASA said that due to frictional effects associated with landfall, Kabayan is forecast to weaken over land and the possibility of being downgraded into a low pressure area while over land or after emerging over the sea is not ruled out although in such a case, redevelopment may occur over the Sulu Sea.
It said the tropical depression will move across the Sulu Sea south of Cuyo Islands for the remainder of Monday and into early morning of Tuesday.
“The tropical cyclone is forecast to make another landfall over central or southern Palawan as a tropical depression by Tuesday morning, then emerge over the Philippine Sea by noon or early afternoon of the same day. Afterwards, Kabayan may pass near or over Kalayaan Islands in the West Philippine Sea,” it added.
PAGASA warned the public of the general wind threat over an area due to the tropical cyclone.
“Local winds may be slightly stronger/enhanced in coastal and upland/mountainous areas exposed to winds. Winds are less strong in areas sheltered from the prevailing wind direction,” it said.
Minimal to minor impacts from strong winds are possible within any of the areas under Wind Signal No. 1, it added.
The weather bureau said the surge of the northeast monsoon will bring also gusty conditions for the next two days over the following areas not under any Wind Signal, especially in coastal and upland/mountainous areas exposed to winds: Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Rizal, Quezon, Lubang Island, Marinduque, Cuyo Islands, Bicol Region, Visayas, the northern and eastern portion of mainland Cagayan, the eastern portions of Isabela and Nueva Ecija, and portions of Cordillera Administrative Region, Zambales, Pampanga, Cavite and Mindoro Provinces.
“Under the influence of the northeast monsoon surge and Kabayan, a gale warning is in effect for the coastal waters along the seaboard of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao. Sea travel is risky for small seacraft (including all motor bancas of any type or tonnage). Mariners of these vessels are advised to remain in port or seek safe harbor,” PAGASA added.
Alert levels
Local government units (LGUs) in the Caraga Region have already raised alert levels, based on advisories.
In Surigao del Sur, Governor Alexander Pimentel issued Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) Advisory No. 1 on Sunday, outlining the preparedness measures for Task Force Kabayan.
“All mayors in the province are directed to be on standby protocol and take the necessary measures to attain zero casualty,” Pimentel said.
He also ordered the local DRRM offices to continuously monitor advisories and weather updates activate their respective operation centers.
The Coast Guard Stations (CGSs) in Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, and Siargao Island also issued separate temporary suspension orders on travels of all types of sea vessels and watercrafts.
CGS-Surigao Norte, in particular, said only roll-on/roll-off vessels with over 300 tonnages are allowed to travel within its areas of jurisdiction at daytime.
Other areas
Meanwhile, there will be cloudy skies and scattered rainfalls in the Caraga, Davao Region, Eastern Visayas, Bicol Region and Quezon due to Kabayan and a shear line.
Cloudy skies with rains will also be experienced in the Cagayan Valley, Apayao and Kalinga provinces due to the northeast monsoon.
Residents are warned against possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rains.
Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, the rest of Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon and the rest of Calabarzon will have partly cloudy skies with isolated light rains due to northeast monsoon but with no significant impact.
The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers caused by localized thunderstorms. (PNA)
