Basyang moving towards eastern Mindanao; Signal No. 2 over 8 areas

Tropical Storm Basyang maintains its strength while moving towards eastern Mindanao as Signal No. 2 has been hoisted over eight areas, according to the latest Tropical Cyclone Bulletin posted by PAGASA.

The center of Tropical Storm Basyang was estimated at 440 kilometers East of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center, gustiness of up to 80 km/h, and central pressure of 1000 hPa.

Basyang is moving west southwestward at the speed of 15 km/h with strong to gale-force winds extend outwards up to 300 km from the center.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 is hoisted over the following areas:

Mindanao:

• Surigao del Norte including Siargao - Bucas Grande Islands
• Surigao del Sur
• the extreme northern portion of Davao Oriental (Boston)
• Agusan del Norte
• Agusan del Sur
• Misamis Oriental
• the northern portion of Bukidnon (Impasug-Ong, Manolo Fortich, Malitbog, Sumilao, Libona, Baungon, City of Malaybalay, Cabanglasan)
• Camiguin

The following areas are under TCWS No.1:

Visayas:

• the southern portion of Eastern Samar (Guiuan, Salcedo, Mercedes, Giporlos, Balangiga, Lawaan, Quinapondan, General Macarthur, Hernani, Llorente, Balangkayan)
• the southern portion of Samar (Marabut, Basey, Santa Rita)
• Biliran
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Bohol
• Cebu
• Siquijor
• Negros Oriental
• Negros Occidental
• Guimaras
• Iloilo
• Capiz
• the southern portion of Aklan (Altavas, Batan, Balete, Libacao, Madalag)
• the central and southern portions of Antique (Valderrama, San Remigio, Sibalom, Hamtic, Tobias Fornier, Anini-Y, Culasi, Tibiao, Barbaza, Laua-An, Bugasong, San Jose, Belison, Patnongon)

Mindanao:

• Dinagat Islands
• the northern and central portions of Davao Oriental (Cateel, Baganga, Caraga, Manay, Tarragona, Lupon, Banaybanay)
• Davao de Oro
• Davao del Norte
• the northern portion of Davao del Sur (Davao City)
• the rest of Bukidnon
• the northern portion of Cotabato (Carmen, Banisilan, Alamada, President Roxas, Antipas, Arakan, Magpet, Matalam, Kabacan)
• Lanao del Sur
• the northern portion of Maguindanao del Norte (Buldon, Barira, Matanog)
• Lanao del Norte
• Misamis Occidental
• the eastern and central portions of Zamboanga del Norte (Mutia, Piñan, Polanco, Dipolog City, Dapitan City, Sibutad, Rizal, La Libertad, Labason, Kalawit, Liloy, Salug, Bacungan, Sindangan, Jose Dalman, Manukan, Pres. Manuel A. Roxas, Katipunan, Sergio Osmeña Sr., Siayan, Godod, Tampilisan, Gutalac)
• the northern and central portions of Zamboanga del Sur (Bayog, Kumalarang, Lapuyan, San Miguel, Guipos, Dinas, San Pablo, Dumalinao, Pagadian City, Tigbao, Lakewood, Dumingag, Mahayag, Molave, Josefina, Tambulig, Aurora, Ramon Magsaysay, Sominot, Midsalip, Labangan, Tukuran)
• the northern portion of Zamboanga Sibugay (Kabasalan, Diplahan, Naga, Titay, Ipil, Buug)

Heavy rainfall outlook

Heavy rainfall outlook due to Basyang for Thursday:

100mm to 200mm - Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental

50mm to 100mm - Southern Leyte, Eastern Samar, Zamboanga del Norte, Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur

Severe Winds

The state weather bureau also reported that the surge of the Northeast Monsoon will also bring strong to gale-force gusts over the following areas (especially in coastal and upland areas exposed to winds): Batanes, Babuyan Islands, northern portion of mainland Cagayan, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Bicol Region, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Cuyo and Cagayancillo Islands, Visayas, and most of Mindanao.

Coastal Flooding

"There is a minimal to moderate risk of storm surge with peak heights reaching up to 2.0 m within the next 48 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal communities of Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Davao Oriental, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Cebu, and Bohol," said PAGASA.

Hazards affecting coastal waters

A Gale Warning is in effect over the eastern seaboard of Visayas and Mindanao. PAGASA said sea travel is risky for all types or tonnage of vessels. All mariners must remain in port or, if underway, seek shelter or safe harbor as soon as possible until winds and waves subside.

Track and intensity outlook

Tropical Storm Basyang is now momentarily moving west southwestward, then it will move generally westward for the next 24 hours before turning west northwestward beginning Friday morning.

The center of Basyang will make its initial landfall over Surigao del Sur between Thursday night and early Friday morning.

"After crossing Mindanao, it is likely to emerge over Bohol Sea tomorrow morning, pass close Siquijor, and may pass close or make another landfall over the southern portion of Negros Oriental by tomorrow afternoon," said PAGASA.

By Friday evening or early Saturday morning, Basyang will emerge over Sulu Sea, then traverse the northern portion of Palawan between Saturday afternoon and evening.

"Basyang may further intensify prior to its initial landfall. It will then slightly weaken as it interacts with the landmass but it will likely remain a tropical storm. Further weakening into a tropical depression is forecast by Saturday and will be downgraded into a low pressure area by Monday (09 February)," the weather bureau added. — BAP, GMA Integrated News