The weather disturbance “Crising” has intensified into a tropical storm on Thursday, May 13, threatening the areas of Davao Oriental and Surigao del Sur, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
In its severe weather bulletin issued at 11 a.m., PAGASA estimated the location of Crising at 330 kilometers (km) east of Davao at around 10 a.m.
The tropical storm packed a maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph, while moving west northwestward at 10 kph.
PAGASA said Crising intensified into a tropical storm at 8 a.m. There is a possibility that it will slightly intensify but will likely remain as tropical storm before landfall.
Based on the forecast track, Crising will move westward or west northwestward and is seen to make landfall over Davao Oriental-Surigao del Sur area between Thursday night and Friday morning, May 14.
PAGASA said that moderate to heavy rains may be experienced over Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, and Davao del Norte between Thursday and Friday morning.
Tropical cyclone wind signal number 2 has been raised over the southern portion of Surigao del Sur (Lingig, City of Bislig), the southeastern portion of Agusan del Sur (Trento, Santa Josefa), the northern portion of Davao Oriental (Boston, Cateel, Baganga), and the northeastern portion of Davao de Oro (Compostela, Montevista, Monkayo, New Bataan).
Areas under Signal number 1 are the rest of Surigao del Sur, the rest of Agusan del Sur, the rest of Davao Oriental, the rest of Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao City, and the eastern portion of Bukidnon (Impasug-Ong, City of Malaybalay, Cabanglasan, San Fernando, Quezon, City of Valencia, Lantapan, Maramag, Dangcagan, Kitaotao, Don Carlos, Kibawe, Damulog).
PAGASA said Crising would bring gale-force winds in areas under signal number 2, while strong breeze to near gale conditions may be felt over the areas under signal number 1, especially in the coastal and mountainous areas of these localities.
In the next 24 hours, moderate to rough seas will be experienced over the eastern seaboard of Mindanao.
Mariners of small sea crafts were advised not to venture out over these waters. Inexperienced mariners of these vessels should also avoid navigating in these conditions.
By Friday, Crising is forecast to weaken into a tropical depression as it traverses the rugged landmass of Mindanao and will emerge over the Sulu Sea on Saturday morning, May 15.
Crising is forecast to weaken into a remnant low on Sunday early morning, May 16, while passing over Palawan and would dissipate shortly afterwards.
According to PAGASA, Crising is estimated to be in the vicinity of Boston, Davao Oriental by Friday morning, and will likely be 120 km west southwest of Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on Saturday morning.
By Sunday morning, Crising may be located at around 50 km west of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.