Auring weakens into tropical storm but more areas under Signal No. 1

More areas have been placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 even as severe tropical storm Auring weakened into a tropical storm, PAGASA announced Friday afternoon.

In its 5 p.m. severe weather bulletin, the weather agency said the following areas under TCWS No. 1 are:

• Southern Leyte and the southeastern portion of Eastern Samar (Guiuan including Homonhon Island)
• Dinagat Islands
• Surigao del Norte
• Surigao del Sur
• Agusan del Norte
• Agusan del Sur
• Davao Oriental
• Davao de Oro
• Davao del Norte
• Davao City
• Camiguin
• The eastern portion of Misamis Oriental (Balingasag, Balingoan, Binuangan, Claveria, Gingoog City, Jasaan, Kinoguitan, Lagonglong, Magsaysay, Medina, Salay, Sugbongcogon, Tagoloan, Talisayan, Villanueva)
• The western portion of Bukidnon (Cabanglasan, Impasug-ong, Lantapan, Malaybalay City, Malitbog, Manolo Fortich, Maramag, Quezon, San Fernando, Sumilao, Valencia City)

PAGASA said more areas in Northern Mindanao and Eastern Central Visayas may be placed under TCWS No. 1 while TCWS No. 2 may be raised over Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental in the next hours.

At 4 p.m. on Friday, the center of Auring was estimated at 405 kilometers east-southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph.

It is moving westward at 15 kph.

PAGASA said Auring may make landfall over the eastern coast of the Caraga Region on Sunday morning, adding that re-intensification into a severe tropical storm before landfall is likely.

The next severe weather bulletin on Auring is set to be issued at 11 p.m.

Hazards affecting land

According to PAGASA, light to moderate with, at times, heavy rains may prevail over Caraga, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, and Davao del Norte until Friday evening.

On Saturday, moderate to heavy with, at times, intense rains are expected over Caraga, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, and Davao del Norte.

Meanwhile, light to moderate with, at times, heavy rains may prevail over Eastern and Central Visayas, the rest of Northern Mindanao, Lanao del Sur, Cotabato, and Davao City.

PAGASA said that widespread flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides are likely under suck conditions.

Hazards affecting coastal waters

The weather agency said rough to high seas will be experienced over the eastern seaboard of Mindanao in the next 24 hours.

Rough to very rough seas are, meanwhile, expected over the seaboards of Luzon, Visayas, and the northern seaboard of Mindanao.

“Sea travel is risky for all types of sea vessels over these waters,” PAGASA said.

According  to the weather agency, the rest of the seaboards in the country will also experience moderate to rough seas.

“Mariners of small seacrafts are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea. Inexperienced mariners should avoid navigating in these conditions,” it said. -NB, GMA News