Tropical storm "Dante" (international name "Choi-wan") has slightly intensified mid-Monday, May 31, as it brings light to at times heavy rains mostly over the eastern and southern regions of Mindanao.
In its 11 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Dante has maximum sustained winds of 75 km per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness up to 90 kph while moving northwest at 20 kph.
Its location was estimated at 515 kilometers (km) east-northeast of Davao City or 445 km east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur as of 10 a.m.
"Sa nakikita natin sa model simulation talagang ang paulan na dala ni Dante ay confined lamang within the periphery of the storm. Kung magkakaroon man ng considerable amount of rainfall ay karaniwan sa mga lalawigan na nasa silangang bahagi ng Southern Luzon, Visayas, at maging ng Mindanao," PAGASA senior weather specialist Chris Perez said in a virtual press briefing on Monday.
(From what we see in the model simulation, Dante's rains are confined within the periphery of the storm. Considerable amount of rainfall is expected over provinces in the eastern part of Southern Luzon, Visayas, and even Mindanao).
In the next 24 hours, PAGASA said light to moderate with at times heavy rains may persist over Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Bukidnon, and Misamis Oriental.
"Under these conditions, isolated to scattered flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps," PAGASA warned.
"Adjacent or nearby areas may also experience flooding in the absence of such rainfall occurrence due to surface runoff or swelling of river channels," it added.
PAGASA said that Dante may intensify into a severe tropical storm by Wednesday morning.
The storm may continue to move generally northwestward over the next two days, then turn generally north-northwestward by Thursday, June 3, and northeastward by Friday, June 4.
PAGASA said Dante will likely remain over the Philippine Sea throughout the forecast period.
Moreover, the possibility of raising tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) over the country is slim as of this time, but given the uncertainty in its forecast track, any further westward shift in its track or expansion in its wind radius may lead to the hoisting of TCWS over the eastern portion of the country.
"Sa nakikita natin ngayon, yung kumpol ng kaulapan nito at yung posibleng magiging kilos nito ay possible na magpaibayo sa southwesterly wind flow or yung parang hilaw na 'habagat,'" Perez said.
(From what we see now, its cluster of clouds and its possible movement are likely to enhance the southwesterly wind flow or the seemingly raw 'habagat').
"Kapag nagkaganon, more on the western section ng southern Luzon, Visayas, and possibly ng Mindanao area in the next two to three days. Pero gaya ng nabanggit nga natin, kung magkaroon ng pagbabago sa intensity baka mas lumawak pa yung makakaranas ng pag ulan na indirectly associated with tropical storm Dante," he added.
(If this happens, rains will be more on the western section of southern Luzon, Visayas, and possibly the Mindanao area in the next two to three days. But as we mentioned, if there is a change in intensity, more areas may experience rains that are indirectly associated with tropical storm Dante).