Vinta slightly weakens after crossing Davao region, to leave PAR past Xmas

Severe Tropical Storm Vinta has been downgraded back to a tropical storm as it slightly weakened after crossing the northern part of Davao Region, state weather bureau PAGASA said on late Friday morning.

State weather forecasters had earlier estimated Vinta to be out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Christmas morning of Sunday, but in its latest severe weather bulletin at 11 a.m., PAGASA revised its forecast and said Vinta might linger a little longer than predicted within the PAR.

It made landfall in Cateel, Davao Oriental early Friday morning, and is still expected to be outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Monday morning.

Currently, its maximum sustained winds have decreased from up to 90 kph to up to 80 kph near the center and its gustiness has also dropped from 155 kph to 130 kph, PAGASA said.

It has also slightly slowed in its westward track, seeing a reduction in speed from 20 kph at 8 a.m. to 18 kph three hours later.

Even so, "scattered to widespread moderate to heavy rains" will fall over Visayas and Mindanao within 24 hours, said PAGASA, still advising residents to "make appropriate actions" against flooding and landslides.

As of 10 a.m., Vinta was estimated to be in the vicinity of Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

Eleven areas are under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal (TCWS) No. 2:

• Agusan del Sur
• Davao del Norte
• North Cotabato
• Misamis Oriental
• Bukidnon
• Lanao del Norte
• Lanao del Sur
• Misamis Occidental
• Zamboanga del Norte
• Zamboanga del Sur
• Zamboanga Sibugay

The following areas, meanwhile, are under TCWS No. 1:

• Southern Leyte
• Bohol
• Southern Cebu
• Negros Oriental
• Southern Negros Occidental
• Siquijor
• Dinagat Island
• Surigao del Norte
• Surigao del Sur
• Agusan del Norte
• Camiguin
• Compostela Valley
• Davao Oriental
• Davao del Sur
• Maguindanao
• Sultan Kudarat
• Basilan

A storm surge is possible in coastal areas where Signal No. 2 is hoisted, said PAGASA, as waves could be 4.1 to 14 meters high.

Sea travel remains risky over the seaboards of areas under TCWS, it also said.

The next severe weather bulletin will be issued at 2 p.m. — Nicole-Anne Lagrimas/MDM, GMA News