Aghon makes landfall over Eastern Samar, Signal No. 1 remains over 20 areas

Tropical Depression Aghon has crossed Homonhon Island and made landfall in the vicinity of Giporlos in Eastern Samar early Saturday morning, PAGASA reported.

In Tropical Cyclone Bulletin posted at 2 a.m., the center of the eye was estimated within the vicinity of Balangiga, Eastern Samar and moving northwestward at 20 km/h packing maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 70 km/h.

The weather bureau reported that forecast rainfall are generally higher in elevated or mountainous areas and can cause flooding and induced landslides especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps and in localities that experienced considerable amounts of rainfall for the past several days.

Heavy Rainfall Outlook

Forecast accumulated rainfall from Saturday night until Sunday evening, 100-200 mm in the province of Albay, Sorsogon, Eastern Visayas, Surigao del Norte, and Dinagat Islands and 50-100 mm in the southeastern portion of Quezon, the rest of Bicol Region, and the northern portions of Western Visayas and Cebu.

Severe Winds 

PAGASA also reported local winds may be slightly stronger/enhanced in coastal and upland/mountainous areas exposed to winds. Winds are less strong in areas sheltered from the prevailing wind direction.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 is raised over the following areas:

Luzon

• Polillo Islands
• the southeastern portion of Quezon (Calauag, Guinayangan, Lopez, Buenavista, Catanauan, Mulanay, San Narciso, San Francisco, San Andres, Tagkawayan)
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduanes
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Masbate including Burias and Ticao Islands

Visayas

• Northern Samar
• Samar
• Eastern Samar
• Biliran
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• the extreme northern portion of Cebu (San Remigio, Tabogon, City of Bogo, Medellin, Daanbantayan, Borbon) including Camotes and Bantayan Islands
• the northeastern portion of Bohol (Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Bien Unido, Trinidad, Anda, Candijay, Ubay, Mabini, Alicia, San Miguel, Talibon)

Mindanao

• Dinagat Islands
• Surigao del Norte including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands
• the northern portion of Surigao del Sur (Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, Carrascal, Lanuza, Cortes)
• the northern portion of Agusan del Norte (Kitcharao, Jabonga, Santiago, Tubay)

Minimal to minor impacts from strong winds are possible within any of the areas under Wind Signal No. 1.

Hazards affecting coastal waters

Aghon will bring moderate to rough seas over the coastal waters along the seaboards of Bicol Region, the southern seaboard of Quezon, the eastern seaboard of Eastern Visayas, the western seaboard of Samar and Northern Samar, and the eastern seaboard of Caraga Region.

PAGASA warned mariners of motor bancas and similarly-sized vessels are advised to take precautionary measures while venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions, especially if inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels.

Track and Intensity Outlook

The Tropical Depression is forecast to traverse the Samar Island and emerge over the Samar Sea-San Bernardino Strait area late Saturday morning.

Aghon will generally northwestward and cross the Bicol Peninsula between in the afternoon and early Sunday morning and forecasted to emerge over the waters north of Camarines Provinces by Sunday morning. During this period, AGHON may reach tropical storm category.

On Sunday, AGHON will begin its move towards the northeast direction, moving over the Philippine Sea and forecasted to continuously intensify and may reach typhoon category on Tuesday.

On the track forecast, Aghon may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility no earlier than Tuesday. — BAP, GMA Integrated News