PAGASA reports Verbena landfall over Bayabas in Surigao Del Sur

Tropical Depression Verbena has made landfall over Bayabas, Surigao del Sur, PAGASA said Monday afternoon.

In an update, the state weather bureau said Verbena hit land at around 1:30 p.m. in Bayabas.

At 4 p.m., Verbena was located in the vicinity of Jabonga, Agusan del Norte, carrying maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 75 km/h. It was moving west northwestward at 30 km/h.

Based on the state weather bureau’s 5 p.m. cyclone bulletin, the following areas are under Signal No. 1:

Luzon

• Occidental Mindoro
• Oriental Mindoro
• Romblon
• The northern and central portions of Palawan (Araceli, Taytay, El Nido, Dumaran, Roxas, San Vicente, Puerto Princesa City) including Calamian, Cuyo
• Cagayancillo Islands
• Mainland Masbate Balud
• Mandaon
• Milagros
• Cawayan
• Placer
• Pio V. Corpuz, Esperanza
• Uson
• Dimasalang
• City of Masbate
• Mobo
• Palanas
• Aroroy
• Cataingan
• Baleno

Visayas

• Antique
• Aklan
• Capiz
• Iloilo
• Guimaras
• Negros Occidental
• Negros Oriental
• Siquijor
• Cebu
• Bohol
• Samar
• Eastern Samar
• Biliran
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte

Mindanao

• Dinagat Islands
• Surigao del Norte
• Surigao del Sur 
• Agusan del Norte
• Agusan del Sur 
• Camiguin
• Misamis Oriental
• the northern portion of Bukidnon (Baungon, Libona, Manolo Fortich, Sumilao, Impasug-Ong, City of Malaybalay, Malitbog, Cabanglasan)
• the northern portion of Misamis Occidental (Sapang Dalaga, Calamba, Baliangao, Plaridel, Lopez Jaena, Oroquieta City, Aloran, Panaon, Jimenez, Concepcion)
• the northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte (Jose Dalman, Manukan, Pres. Manuel A. Roxas, Katipunan, Dipolog City, Polanco, Piñan, Dapitan City, La Libertad, Sibutad, Rizal, Mutia)

PAGASA warned that areas under Signal No. 1 may experience minimal to minor impacts from strong winds.

It added that on Tuesday, the surge of the Northeast Monsoon (Amihan) combined with the storm will bring gusty conditions reaching strong to gale-force strength over Luzon, Visayas, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Zamboanga del Norte, which are not under any wind signal.

A gale warning is still in effect over the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon.

“It must be emphasized that heavy rainfall, severe winds, and storm surge may still be experienced in localities outside the landfall point and outside the forecast confidence cone,” PAGASA said.

“Furthermore, the track may still shift within the limit of the forecast confidence cone,” it added.

Verbena is expected to move across the Caraga Region on Monday afternoon through early evening. 

It will then accelerate across Visayas and the northern portion of Palawan between Monday evening and Tuesday evening before emerging over the West Philippine Sea on Wednesday morning. 

The storm is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday.

PAGASA maintained that Verbena may slightly intensify before landfall but will likely cross Visayas as a tropical depression. 

“It may reach tropical storm category either before reaching northern Palawan or once over the West Philippine Sea,” state meteorologists said.

“Verbena may peak at severe tropical storm category while in the middle of the West Philippine Sea north of Kalayaan Islands,” it added.–NB, GMA Integrated News