TD Crising accelerates; may make landfall over Davao Oriental

(Updated 6:52 a.m.) Tropical Depression Crising may make landfall over the Davao Oriental area Tuesday afternoon, PAGASA forecaster Meno Mendoza said in an interview on dzBB radio. Mendoza added that rain may be moderate to heavy in parts of Mindanao, including Caraga, Davao, Northern Mindanao, Cotabato, Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat. Mendoza warned residents near rivers in the affected areas to be alert and be ready to evacuate if they overflow. "Ang Caraga at Davao, makakaranas ng maghapon na pagulan dahil palapit na ito," he said. Cyclone warning In its 5 a.m. Tropical Cyclone Warning PAGASA said that Tropical Depression Crising has accelerated as it continues to threaten Mindanao. As of 4 a.m. Tuesday, the center of Crising was estimated to be 310 km east of General Santos City. It has maximum winds of 45 kph near the center and it continues to move west-northwest at 22 kph. Within Crising's 300 km diameter center, estimated rainfall is from 5 – 15 mm per hour (moderate – heavy). By Wednesday morning, Crising is expected to be 30 km northwest of Cotabato City. By Thursday morning it should be 380 km northwest of Zamboanga City. By Friday morning, it is expected to be at 450 km northwest of Puerto Princesa City. Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1 is up over: Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur including Samal Island, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, the southern part of Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, North Cotabato, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and, Zamboanga Sibugay. Residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under Public Storm Signal No. 1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised against venturing out into the northern and eastern seaboards of the country. PAGASA advised public and the disaster coordinating councils concerned to act appropriately. The national weather service shall issue its next bulletin at 11 a.m. The rest of the country In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said that while Mindanao will experience rains and gusty winds, eastern and central Visayas will be cloudy with moderate to heavy rain showers and thunderstorms which may trigger flash floods and landslides. Bicol and the rest of Visayas will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers or thunderstorms. The Cagayan Valley and the provinces of Aurora and Quezon will be cloudy with light rain. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the east to southeast will prevail over Northern Luzon and coming from the northeast to north over the rest of the country. — DVM, GMA News