PAGASA: TD Zoraida enters PAR, Signal 1 up over east Mindanao

Less than two days after Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility, a new cyclone started to affect the weather over the country early Monday.

PAGASA forecaster Meno Mendoza said over dzBB radio that the cyclone, a tropical depression, was locally codenamed Zoraida after entering the PAR at 4 a.m.

Mendoza said Tropical Depression Zorayda was 950 km southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur and packed maximum winds of 55 kph. It was moving at 28 kph.

The Japan Meteorological Agency's 3:25 a.m. update said the troical depression was moving northwest at 30 kph.

Mendoza added that Zoraida may follow the same path as Yolanda, with a possibility it will make landfall before dawn of Tuesday.

PAGASA's 5 a.m. advisory forecasted Zoraida to be 400 km southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur by Tuesday morning, and near Tagbilaran City by Wednesday morning.

By Thursday morning, it is expected to be at 170 km west of Coron, Palawan.

"Inaasahan natin magkaroon ng pagulan sa area ng Mindanao," Mendoza said.

He added that there was also a posibily that Zoraida would intensify, as it was still at sea where it can gain more strength.

Storm signals

Mendoza said Storm Signal No. 1 was up over:

• Dinagat Island,
• Siargao Island,
• Agusan del Norte,
• Agusan del Sur,
• Davao del Norte,
• Surigao del Sur, and
• Davao Oriental.

PAGASA said Zoraida will bring rainfall of 5 to 15 mm per hour (moderate to heavy) within its 300-km diameter.

"Sea travel is risky over the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon and eastern seaboard of Northern and Central Luzon," the weather service warned. — DVM, GMA News