Tropical storm "Dante" (international name "Choi-wan") has maintained its strength prior to its expected landfall over Eastern Samar or Leyte Tuesday afternoon or evening, June 1, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

In its 11 a .m. bulletin, the center of tropical storm Dante was estimated at 235 kilometers east of Maasin City, Southern Leyte at around 10 a.m.

It has maintained its maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph while moving westward at 25 kph.

Tropical cyclone wind signal No. 2 remains hoisted over Masbate including Ticao and Burias Island, Albay, Sorsogon, Eastern Samar, Samar, Northern Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Dinagat Islands, and Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands

Signal No. 1 was also hoisted over Quezon including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Marinduque, Romblon, Aklan, Capiz, northern and central portion of Iloilo, northern portion of Negros Occidental, Bohol, northern and central portion of Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, the rest of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, northeastern portion of Misamis Oriental, and Camiguin.

Strong winds, heavy rains

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.

In the next few hours, PAGASA said the storm will bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Samar, and Eastern Samar, and moderate to heavy rains over Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Northern Samar, Bohol, northern portion of Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, Sorsogon, and Masbate.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains will also affect Catanduanes, Albay, Camarines Sur, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Camiguin, Bukidnon, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, the rest of Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.

"Under these conditions and considering antecedent rainfall, scattered flooding including flash floods and rain-induced landslides are highly likely, 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

In its current forecast track, PAGASA said tropical storm Dante will likely have its initial landfall over Eastern Samar or Leyte between Tuesday afternoon and evening.

"However due to the movement of the storm over the past three to six hours, there is an increasing likelihood that Dante will move more west-northwestward or westward in the near-term, which may bring the area of initial landfall over Leyte or Dinagat Islands-Siargao Islands area," PAGASA pointed out.

Dante may maintain its strength before landfall then weaken into a tropical depression by Friday, June 4, and low pressure area by Saturday, June 5.