Tropical depression "Dante" has maintained its strength on Sunday evening, May 30, but will likely reach the tropical storm category within the next 12 to 24 hours, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

In its 11 p.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, PAGASA said the center of tropical depression Dante was estimated at 685 kilometers east of Davao City at around 10 p.m.

It has maintained its maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness up to 70 kph while moving northwest at 15 kph.

In the next 24 hours, PAGASA said light to moderate with at times heavy rains will affect gusan 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 advised.

Dante's current forecast track shows that the hoisting of tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) over the country remains less likely.

However, given the uncertainty in its track forecast, any further westward shift in the track forecast may lead to the hoisting of TCWS over the eastern portion of the country, PAGASA said.

Based on the forecast track, Dante will likely remain over the Philippine Sea throughout the forecast period.

PAGASA said the tropical depression will continue to move generally northwestward over the next three days.

Afterward, the tropical cyclone will likely turn generally north-northwestward by Thursday, June 3, and northeastward by Friday, June 4.