The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said tropical storm "Dante" (international name "Choi-wan") has made its second landfall over Cataingan, Masbate at 1 a.m., Wednesday, June 2.
Dante had its initial landfall over Sulat, Eastern Samar at 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 1.
In the PAGASA's bulletin issued at 2 a.m., Wednesday, Dante has maintained its maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph while moving west-northwestward at 20 kph.
Tropical cyclone wind signal No. 2 remains hoisted over Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Norte, western and central portions of Camarines Sur, southern portion of Quezon, eastern portion of Marinduque, northern and eastern portions of Romblon, Biliran, northern and central portions of Samar, and western portion of Northern Samar.
Signal No. 1 is still up in the southern portion of Isabela, Ifugao, Mountain Province, eastern portion of Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Aurora, eastern portion of Nueva Ecija, eastern portion of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, eastern portion of Batangas, the rest of Quezon including Polillo Islands, Oriental Mindoro, the rest of Marinduque, the rest of Romblon, the rest of Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, the rest of Northern Samar, the rest of Samar, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, northern portion of Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, northern portion of Bohol, northern portion of Negros Occidental, northern and eastern portions of Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, and northern portion of Antique.
Severe winds, heavy to intense rainfall prevail
Within 24 to 36 hours, Dante is expected to bring strong winds to gale-force winds in areas under Signal No. 2, while strong winds may affect areas under Signal No. 1.
Moreover, in the next few hours, PAGASA said the storm will bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, northern portion of Cebu including Camotes and Bantayan Islands, northern portion of Negros Occidental, Aklan, Capiz, northern portion of Antique, northern and eastern portions of Iloilo, Masbate, and Romblon.
Dante will also bring moderate to heavy rains over the rest of Western Visayas, the rest of Central Visayas, Samar, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Calamian and Cuyo Islands, Quezon including Polillo Islands, and Camarines Norte.
Light to moderate with at times heavy rains may also affect Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, northern portion of mainland Palawan, the rest of Visayas, the rest of Bicol Region, Dinagat Islands, and Camiguin.
"Under these conditions and considering antecedent rainfall, scattered to widespread flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides are expected, especially in areas with high or very high susceptibility 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.
Forecast track and intensity
After making landfall over Cataingan, Masbate, PAGASA said Dante will traverse Masbate in the next three to six hours and continue to move west-northwestward in the next 12 hours.
Afterward, the storm will move west-northwestward or northwestward toward Quezon province and Aurora before turning more northward by Thursday morning, June 3, over the rugged terrain of Northern Luzon.
PAGASA said Dante will be over the coastal waters of San Francisco, Quezon at around 11 a.m., Wednesday, and in the vicinity of General Nakar, Quezon at 11 p.m.
At around 11 a.m., Thursday, June 3, Dante will be in the vicinity of Natonin, Mountain Province, and over the coastal waters of Aparri, Cagayan at around 11 p.m.
Due to increased vertical wind shear and land interaction, Dante may maintain its strength in the next 12 hours before eventually weakening into a tropical depression late Wednesday, PAGASA said.
However, there is also an increasing likelihood that Dante may weaken into a tropical depression much earlier than the forecast period.