2 areas under Signal No. 1 as Dante maintains its strength

Two areas in the Visayas have been placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 as Tropical Storm Dante maintained its strength as it continued to move west northwestward over the Philippine Sea, PAGASA said.

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

• the eastern portion of Northern Samar (Mapanas, Gamay, Lapinig, Palapag, Laoang)
• the northeastern portion of Eatern Samar (Arteche, San Policarpio)
• PAGASA said the center of Dante was located 375 kilometers east northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur or 455 km east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte at 4 p.m. with maximum sustained winds of 75 km per hour near the center and gustiness up to 90 kph and central pressure of 996 hPa. It is moving northwestward at 20 kph.

Hazards

From Monday to Tuesday afternoon, light to moderate with, at times, heavy rains will be experienced over Caraga, Davao Region, Eastern Visayas, Bukidnon, and Misamis Oriental due to the outer rainbands of Dante.

PAGASA said isolated to scattered flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps.

"Adjacent or nearby areas may also experience flooding in the absence of such rainfall occurrence due to surface runoff or swelling of river channels," it added.

In the next 24 hours, PAGASA said moderate to rough seas (1.2 to 2.8 meters) will prevail over the eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao.

"Mariners of small seacrafts are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea. Inexperienced mariners should avoid navigating in these conditions," PAGASA said.

The weather bureau said Dante is forecasted to gradually intensify and may reach severe tropical storm category by Wednesday morning or afternoon. —NB, GMA News