'Auring' intensifies into tropical storm, Palawan under storm signals

Palawan province was placed under storm signals Thursday night as Tropical Cyclone Auring (international code name Sonamu) intensified into a tropical storm, the state weather agency said. In its 11 p.m. advisory, PAGASA said that southern Palawan was under Storm Signal No. 2, while the rest of Palawan was under Storm Signal No. 1. PAGASA said Auring intensified while crossing the Sulu Sea, moving closer to Palawan. As of 10 p.m., PAGASA said Tropical Storm Auring was estimated to be 110 km south of Puerto Princesa City, with maximum winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph. Auring was moving west at 28 kph and is expected to be 660 km southwest of Puerto Princesa City, or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, Friday evening. Auring is expected to bring rainfall of 10 to 20 mm per hour (heavy to intense) within its 300-km diameter. "Residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signal #2 and #1 are alerted against possible flash floods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas under public storm warning signal #2 are alerted against big waves or storm surges generated by this tropical cyclone," PAGASA said. It also advised fishing boats and other small seacrafts not to venture out into the eastern seaboards of the country and over the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon due to the northeast monsoon and over the western seaboard of Visayas and Mindanao due to Auring. — DVM, GMA News