The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) said tropical depression Kabayan maintained its strength while moving closer to the eastern section of Mindanao on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 17.
In it 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the center of Kabayan was located 385 kilometers (km) east of Davao City or 315 km east southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.
It maintained its maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 70 kph, while it moves slowly westward.
Wind warnings up
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 (TCWS) remained hoisted over Southern Leyte, Leyte, the southern portion of Samar, southern portion of Eastern Samar, Cebu including Camotes Islands and Bantayan Islands, Bohol, and Siquijor.
Signal No. 1 was still up in Mindanao areas, which include Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, the northern portion of Davao Oriental, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Bukidnon, Agusan del Sur, Davao de Oro, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, the northern and central portion of Davao del Norte, Davao City, the northern portion of Cotabato, and the northern portion of Maguindanao.
PAGASA said strong winds will be felt in the affected areas in the next 36 hours, which may bring minimal to minor threat to life and property.
Meanwhile, PAGASA said intense rains of 100-200 millimeters (mm) will be expected in Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, and Southern Leyte while heavy rains of 50-100 mm will be felt in the Eastern Visayas, Davao Region, Northern Mindanao, and the rest of Caraga until Monday afternoon.
PAGASA said there will be surge of the northeast monsoon or "amihan" which will bring gusty conditions for the next two days in the areas with no wind signals.
PAGASA said the areas include Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Rizal, Quezon, Lubang Island, Marinduque, Cuyo Islands, Bicol Region, Visayas, the northern and eastern portion of mainland Cagayan, the eastern portions of Isabela and Nueva Ecija, and portions of Cordillera Administrative Region, Zambales, Pampanga, Cavite, Mindoro Provinces.
Landfall
PAGASA is not ruling out the possibility of Kabayan reaching the tropical storm category before its expected landfall.
Kabayan will likely make landfall over Surigao del Sur or Davao Oriental Sunday evening or early Monday morning, it added.
"It will cross the rugged terrain of Mindanao, and emerge over Bohol Sea or Sulu Sea tomorrow morning or afternoon," said PAGASA.