Some areas in Northern and Eastern Samar were placed under tropical cyclone wind signal number 1 on Monday afternoon, May 31, due to the anticipated strong winds from tropical storm "Dante" (international name "Choi-wan").
In its 5 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) placed the eastern portion of Northern Samar (Mapanas, Gamay, Lapinig, Palapag, Laoang) and the northeastern portion of Eastern Samar (Arteche, San Policarpo) under Signal No. 1.
It estimated the location of Dante at 375 kilometers (km) east-northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, or 455 km east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte at around 4 p.m.
Meanwhile, Dante has maintained its maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness up to 90 kph while moving northwestward at 20 kph.
Rains, rough seas expected
In the next 24 hours, light to moderate with at times heavy rains will affect 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, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Biliran, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, and Eastern Samar.
"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.
Moreover, in the next 24 hours, moderate to rough seas will be experienced over the eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao.
PAGASA advised sailors of small vessels to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea, while inexperienced mariners were asked to avoid navigating in these conditions.
Forecast track and intensity
PAGASA said the Dante may continue to move northwestward in the next 36 hours and will likely remain over the Philippine Sea throughout the forecast period.
Afterward, the storm will turn north-northwestward by Wednesday afternoon, June 2, and generally northeastward by Friday, June 4.
PAGASA said Dante may intensify into a severe tropical storm by Wednesday morning or afternoon before weakening throughout the remainder of the forecast period.
Should it maintain its current track, it will be outside the Philippine area of responsibility by Saturday, June 5.