TS Dante slightly intensifies while moving northwestward

Tropical Storm Dante slightly intensified late Monday morning while moving northwestward over the Philippine Sea, PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. bulletin.

Though Dante is not expected to make landfall, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) may still be hoisted over the eastern portion of the country "given the uncertainty of its track," PAGASA said.

Dante is also expected to gradually intensify and may reach severe tropical storm category by Wednesday morning before weakening throughout the remainder of the forecast period.

"The tropical storm is forecast to continue moving generally northwestward over the next two days. Afterwards, the tropical cyclone will turn north northwestward on Thursday and northeastward on Friday," PAGASA said.

PAGASA then urged the public and concerned disaster risk reduction and management offices to take all necessary measures to protect life and property.

As of 10 a.m., the center of Dante was estimated based on all available data at 515 km east northeast of Davao City or 445 km East of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur (8.3°N, 130.4°E).

It packs maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h near the center, gustiness up to 90 km/h, and central pressure of 996 hPa while moving northwestward at 20 km/h.

For Monday, PAGASA said light to moderate with at times heavy rains will be experienced over Caraga and Davao Region, SOCCSKSARGEN, Bukidnon, and Misamis Oriental "due to the outer rainbands of 'Dante.'"

Missing, floods

Meanwhile, search operations are ongoing to locate two people who went missing as heavy rains from Dante caused flooding in South Cotabato over the weekend.

The missing persons were a father and son who stayed in their field in the municipality of Norala to keep watch over their ducks, according to a report by Darlene Cay on Unang Balita on Monday.

However, the river nearby overflowed its banks, flooding their area.

Heavy rains from Dante caused rivers to overflow, flooding rice fields and fish ponds in Norala and Banga in South Cotabato. --KBK, GMA News