Signal No. 1 up over 25 areas; Auring to bring heavy to intense rains

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 was raised over 25 areas in Visayas and Mindanao on Saturday due to Tropical Storm Auring (international name: Dujuan), PAGASA said in its early morning forecast.

The areas under TCWS No. 1 are:

1. Northern Samar
2. Eastern Samar
3. Samar
4. Biliran
5. Leyte
6. Southern Leyte
7. Cebu
8. Negros Oriental
9. Bohol
10. Siquijor
11. Dinagat Islands
12. Surigao del Norte
13. Surigao del Sur
14. Agusan del Norte
15. Agusan del Sur
16. Davao Oriental
17. Davao de Oro
18. Davao del Norte
19. Davao City
20. Camiguin
21. Misamis Oriental
22. Misamis Occidental
23. Lanao del Norte
24. Bukidnon
25. Lanao del Sur

These areas under TCWS No. 1 will experience 30-60 km/h winds prevailing or expected in 36 hours.

Rains

Rainfall will be light to moderate and at times heavy over Eastern Visayas, Caraga, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, and Southern Leyte on Saturday morning until noon.

However, from noontime on Saturday until Sunday morning, heavy to intense rains are expected over Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Dinagat Islands. Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, and the rest of Caraga. Light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, and the rest of Northern Mindanao.

From Sunday morning to Monday morning, moderate to heavy to at times intense rains were forecast over Leyte, Southern Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Surigao del Norte, and Dinagat Islands. Light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Bicol Region, MIMAROPA, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, the southern portion of Quezon, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, and the rest of Visayas and Caraga.

PAGASA said scattered to widespread flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides may occur during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas prone to these hazards.

Areas nearby may also have flooding even without rainfall due to surface runoff or swelling of river channels.

Winds

Due to Auring and the Northeast Monsoon (Amihan), strong to gale-force winds will prevail over areas under TCWS No. 1, and also over he rest of Visayas, Bicol Region, CALABARZON, and Mindoro Provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, and the northern portion of Palawan (including Calamian, Cuyo, and Kalayaan Islands).

The rest of Luzon will have strong breeze to near-gale conditions.

Coastal waters

Seaboards of areas under TCWS No. 1 will have rough to high seas with waves up to 7 meters in the next 24 hours.

Over the eastern and southern seaboards of Southern Luzon, and the remaining seaboards of Visayas, coastal waters will be rough to very rough with waves up to 5 meters.

Meanwhile, as for the northern and western seaboards of Mindanao and the remaining seaboards of Luzon, coastal waters will be rough, with wave height reaching 4 meters.

PAGASA said sea travel is risky for all sea vessels in the above-mentioned areas.

The rest of the country's seaboards will have moderate to rough seas with waves up to 3 meters. Those with small seacraft are advised to take the necessary precautions when venturing out to sea.

Track

Auring is expected to remain stationary in the next 6 to 12 hours then will move gradually northwest.

Landfall is expected over the eastern coast of Caraga Region on Sunday morning or afternoon.

From there Auring's eye or center will cross Visayas and MIMAROPA on Sunday to Monday.

Auring is expected to remain a tropical storm until making landfall. However, it may also weaken into a tropical depression before then.

At 4 a.m., Auring's center was located at 475 km east southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur and remains stationary over the Philippine Sea.

Its maximum sustained winds are 75 km/h near the center, with gustiness of up to 90 km/h.

PAGASA advised the public and disaster risk reduction and management councils concerned to take the necessary precautions.

The next severe weather bulletin will be issued at 11 a.m.

Evacuation, canceled flights

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Saturday advised the public to take the necessary precautions since the effects of Tropical Storm Auring (international name: Dujuan) may be stronger than what was forecast.

"Maaaring mas malala pa... Maaring mas malakas ang kanyang idudulot. Nakita natin 'yan sa mga bagyong nagdaan, mas malakas," NDRRMC Executive Director and Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

Local government units have also been advised to do preemptive evacuation.

"Noong isang araw pa natin inaabisuhan na mag-preventive evacuation sa mga areas na susceptible," Jalad said.

Meanwhile, Philippine Airlines has announced the cancellation of some flights in anticipation of the bad weather to be brought by Auring. —KG, GMA News