Tropical Depression Auring weakens, nears Dinagat Islands, E. Visayas

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression Auring continues to weaken as it approaches the Dinagat Islands-Homonhon Island area, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Monday morning.

The eye of Auring was last spotted 195 kilometers east of Maasin City, Southern Leyte, Pagasa said in its 5a.m. severe weather bulletin.

The weather disturbance is moving west – northwest at 15 kilometers per hour (kph) with maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.

Pagasa said Auring is forecast to continue moving west-northwest throughout its forecast period.

Landfall forecast

Pagasa added that Auring may initially make landfall in the vicinity of  Dinagat Islands, Eastern Samar (southern portion including Homonhon Island) and Leyte in the next six to 12 hours.

There is an increasing likelihood that Auring will further weaken before it makes landfall due to persistent high vertical wind shear associated with the surge of the northeast monsoon.

“Post-landfall, Auring is forecast to weaken considerably due to significant terrain interaction and the increasing wind shear, leading to deterioration into a remnant low within 24 hours, possibly sooner,” Pagasa said.

Rainy Monday

Moderate to heavy rains are expected over the Bicol region, Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Marinduque, Romblon, and Quezon.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains are due over Aurora and the rest of Visayas, Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) this Monday.

On Tuesday, light to moderate with at times heavy rains are expected over Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Metro Manila, Camarines Norte, Bulacan, Aurora, Isabela, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, and Batanes.

Flood and landslide alert

“Under these conditions, isolated to scattered flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides are still likely during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps and in localities that received significant rainfall over the past couple of days,” Pagasa warned.

“Adjacent or nearby areas may also experience flooding in the absence of such rainfall occurrence due to surface runoff or swelling of river channels,” the weather bureau added.

Windy

In the next 24 hours, the combined effects of the northeast monsoon and Auring will bring “strong breeze to near-gale conditions with occasionally higher gusts” over areas where Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) #1 is in effect.

The same wind condition will also be felt over Aurora, Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Batanes, Babuyan Islands, the northern portions of Ilocos Norte and mainland Cagayan, Cuyo Islands, Cagayancillo Islands, and the rest of Visayas and Bicol Region, according to Pagasa.

TCWS 1 is in effect in the following areas:

Luzon

-Sorsogon
-Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands
-Albay
-Catanduanes
-eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Presentacion, Sagnay, Buhi, Iriga City, Nabua, Bato, Balatan)

Visayas

-Northern Samar
-Eastern Samar
-Samar
-Biliran
-Leyte
-Southern Leyte
-Bohol
-Cebu
-Siquijor

-northern and eastern portions of Negros Oriental (Dumaguete City, Sibulan, San Jose, Amlan, Pamplona, Tanjay City, Bais City, Manjuyod, Bindoy, Ayungon, Tayasan, Jimalalud, La Libertad, Guihulngan City, Canlaon City, Vallehermoso)

-northern and central portions of Negros Occidental (Binalbagan, Isabela, Moises Padilla, La Castellana, La Carlota City, Bago City, Pontevedra, Hinigaran, San Enrique, Valladolid, Pulupandan, Murcia, San Carlos City, Bacolod City, Salvador Benedicto, Calatrava, Talisay City, Silay City, Enrique B. Magalona, Victorias City, Manapla, Cadiz City, Sagay City, Escalante City, Toboso)
-eastern portion of Iloilo (Dumangas, Barotac Nuevo, Anilao, San Rafael, Barotac Viejo, Banate, Passi City, San Enrique, Dingle, Lemery, Ajuy, Sara, Concepcion, San Dionisio, Batad, Estancia, Balasan, Carles)
-eastern portion of Capiz (Cuartero, Dumarao, Ma-Ayon, Pontevedra, Panay, President Roxas, Panitan, Dao, Pilar)

Mindanao

-Dinagat Islands

-Surigao del Norte

-northern portion of Surigao del Sur (Lianga, Barobo, San Agustin, Marihatag, Cagwait, Bayabas, Tago, San Miguel, Tandag City, Cortes, Lanuza, Carmen, Madrid, Cantilan, Carrascal)

-Agusan del Norte

-northern portion of Agusan del Sur (Bayugan City, Prosperidad, Sibagat)

-eastern portion of Misamis Oriental (Gingoog City, Magsaysay, Medina, Talisayan, Claveria, Balingasag, Lagonglong, Balingoan, Kinoguitan, Sugbongcogon, Binuangan, Salay)

-Camiguin