Some parts of Visayas and Mindanao are still under tropical cyclone wind signal number 2 as tropical storm “Auring” maintained its strength while nearing the country’s landmass.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the center of Auring was last spotted at 275 kilometers (km) east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte at 7 p.m.
The storm maintained its maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph, while moving northwestward at 25 kilometres per hour (kph) towards eastern Visayas and Caraga area.
PAGASA said Auring is expected to continue moving northwestward in the next 48 hours before making landfall over the Dinagat Islands-Eastern Samar-Leyte area by Monday morning, Feb. 22.
The storm is estimated to maintain its strength in the next 12 hours. But, state meteorologists are not yet ruling out the possibility that Auring may weaken into tropical depression before landfall.
“After landfall, Auring is forecast to weaken considerably due to significant terrain interaction and the increasing wind shear, leading to deterioration into a remnant low within 48 hours, possibly sooner,” the agency said in its 8 p.m. bulletin.
Tropical cyclone wind signal number 2 was hoisted in the following areas:
Visayas
Central and southern portions of Eastern Samar, central and southern portions of Samar, eastern portion of Leyte, and the eastern portion of Southern Leyte
Mindanao
Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands
Winds of greater than 61 kph and up to 120 kph may affect the said areas in at least 24 hours, while structures could sustain light to moderate damages.
PAGASA said the combined effects of the surge of the northeast monsoon and the tropical storm will bring gale-force winds in areas under signal number 2 in the next 24 hours.
Signal No. 1 was also up in the following areas:
Luzon
Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Albay, Catanduanes, the eastern portion of Camarines Sur, and Romblon
Visayas
Northern Samar, rest of Eastern Samar, rest of Samar, Biliran, rest of Leyte, rest of Southern Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Negros Oriental, northern and central portions of Negros Occidental, northern and central portions of Iloilo, Capiz, Guimaras, and Aklan
Mindanao
Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, and Bukidnon
PAGASA said areas may expect winds of 30 to 60 kph or intermittent rains within 36 hours, while no to very light damages to structures may occur.
Strong breeze to near-gale conditions with occasionally higher gusts would be felt in areas under Signal No. 1, as well as over Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan), Aurora, and the rest of Visayas and Bicol Region.
Moderate to heavy rains may affect Caraga, Eastern Visayas, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Catanduanes, Albay, and Sorsogon until Monday morning.
Light to moderate with at times heavy rains may also occur in Zamboanga Peninsula, Mimaropa, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Quezon, and the rest of Bicol Region, Visayas, and Northern Mindanao.
Moreover, moderate to heavy rains may be felt in Bicol Region, Marinduque, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and Samar until Monday night, as well as light to moderate with at times heavy rains over the rest of Visayas, Mimaropa, Quezon, Aurora, Isabela, and Cagayan.