Light to moderate with at times heavy rains are expected over several areas in Mindanao as tropical depression "Dante" intensified into a tropical storm on Monday morning, May 31.

In its 5 a.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Dante has maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

It is moving north-northwest at 15 kph.

Its center was estimated at 625 kilometers east of Davao City at around 3 a.m.

PAGASA said light to moderate with at times heavy rains may 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, 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 gradually intensify in the next two days before weakening towards the end of the week.

The storm may continue to move generally northwestward over the next three days, then turn generally northward 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.