4 areas under Signal No. 1 as Auring intensifies into severe tropical storm

Four areas in Mindanao remained under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 as Tropical Storm Auring intensified into severe tropical storm on Friday morning.

Based on PAGASA's 11 a.m. update, under TCWS No. 1 are:

• Davao Oriental,
• the eastern portion of Davao de Oro (Pantukan, Maragusan, New Bataan, Compostela, Monkayo),
• the eastern portion of Agusan del Sur (Sibagat, Bayugan City, Prosperidad, Talacogon, San Francisco, Rosario, Bunawan, Santa Josefa, Trento), and
• Surigao del Sur

PAGASA said as of 10 a.m., the center of Auring was estimated based on all available data at 535 km east southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.

Auring was moving slowly southwestward with maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 115 km/h. 

From Friday to Saturday afternoon, CARAGA, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, and Davao del Norte will experience light to moderate with at times heavy rain showers, according to PAGASA.

From Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning, CARAGA will have heavy to intense rains, while Eastern Visayas, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Bukidnon, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Davao de Oro will have moderate to heavy with at times intense rains.

The rest of Visayas, the rest of Northern Mindanao, Albay, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Masbate, Lanao del Sur, Cotabato, and Davao City will meanwhile have light to moderate with at times heavy rains.

PAGASA said scattered to widespread flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides are likely to occur during heavy or prolonged rainfall under the said conditions, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to the hazards.

Further, adjacent or nearby areas may also experience flooding in the absence of such rainfall occurrence due to surface runoff or swelling of river channels.

The state weather bureau said that at the meantime, the surge of the Northeast Monsoon is already bringing strong breeze to near-gale conditions with occasionally higher gusts over Northern Luzon and the eastern sections of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, especially in coastal and mountainous areas.

According to PAGASA, the affected localities include those currently under TCWS #1.

It said that strong breeze to near-gale conditions directly associated with Auring will likely begin to prevail over the wind signal areas on Saturday at the earliest.

PAGASA said more localities in CARAGA and the Davao Region may be placed under TCWS number 1 in the next bulletin, adding that the highest level of wind signal that will be issued throughout the passage of Auring is TCWS #2, for potentially damaging gale-force to storm-force winds.

Track, intensity outlook

PAGASA said Auring is expected to move generally westward or west-southwestward slowly over the next 24 hours before turning northwestward on Saturday morning while accelerating.

Auring is forecast to make landfall over the eastern coast of CARAGA on Sunday morning. Based on the forecast track, the storm will likely follow a generally northwestward path as it traverses CARAGA, Visayas, and MIMAROPA on Sunday and Monday.

PAGASA said further intensification into a typhoon within the forecast period remains less likely as of this time.

Auring will likely weaken while crossing the archipelago due to significant terrain interaction and dry air intrusion from the Northeast Monsoon, it added. —Jamil Santos/KBK, GMA News