MORE areas have been placed under storm warning signals, as Tropical Storm Dante (Choi-Wan) continued to move closer to Visayas Tuesday afternoon, June 1, 2021.
As of 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dante was spotted moving north northwestward toward the southern portion of Eastern Visayas, and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said it will continue to move generally west northwestward or northwestward until Wednesday evening, June 2.
“The center of Tropical Storm Dante was estimated based on all available data at 220 kilometers east northeast of Maasin City, Southern Leyte or 125 kilometers east southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar,” Pagasa said in its 2 p.m. bulletin.
It added that the storm will make its initial landfall over Eastern Samar or Leyte between Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.
“This tropical storm is forecast to maintain its strength prior to landfall. Dante may weaken into a tropical depression on Friday and to low pressure area on Saturday,” it added.
The storm was seen packing maximum winds of 75 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center, gusts up to 90 km/h, and central pressure of 996 hPa. It was moving north northwestward at 15 km/h.
Pagasa said gale-force winds may extend outward up to 100 kilometers from the center.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 2 has been raised over the following areas:
LUZON
Catanduanes, the southern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Presentacion, Lagonoy, San Jose, Sagñay, Garchitorena, Buhi, Iriga City, Bato, Nabua, Balatan, Goa, Tigaon, Ocampo, Bula, Baao, Pili, Minalabac, Milaor, Naga City, Calabanga, Bombon, Magarao, Canaman, Camaligan, Gainza, San Fernando, Tinambac, Siruma), Masbate including Ticao and Burias Island, Albay and Sorsogon
VISAYAS
Eastern Samar, Samar, Northern Samar, Biliran, Leyte, and Southern Leyte
MINDANAO
Dinagat Islands, Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands
Areas under TCWS Number 1 are the following:
LUZON
Quezon including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, the rest of Camarines Sur, Marinduque, and Romblon
VISAYAS
Aklan, Capiz, the northern and central portion of Iloilo (Lambunao, Janiuay, Dumangas, Zarraga, New Lucena, Pototan, Mina, Badiangan, Dueñas, Calinog, Bingawan, City of Passi, San Enrique, Dingle, Barotac Nuevo, Banate, Anilao, Barotac Viejo, San Rafael, Lemery, Ajuy, Sara, San Dionisio, Concepcion, Batad, Estancia, Balasan, Carles), the northern portion of Negros Occidental (San Carlos City, Salvador Benedicto, Cadiz City, Sagay City, City of Escalante, Toboso, Calatrava, City of Talisay, Silay City, Enrique B. Magalona, City of Victorias, Manapla, Murcia, Bacolod City), Bohol, and the northern and central portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin, City of Bogo, San Remigio, Tabogon, Borbon, Tabuelan, Sogod, Tuburan, Catmon, Carmen, Danao City, Asturias, Balamban, Compostela, Liloan, Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Consolacion, Cordova, Toledo City, City of Talisay, Minglanilla, City of Naga, Pinamungahan, San Fernando, Aloguinsan, City of Carcar) including Bantayan and Camotes Islands
MINDANAO
The rest of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, and the northeastern portion of Misamis Oriental (Magsaysay, Gingoog City, Talisayan, Balingoan, Medina), and Camiguin
Pagasa said Dante will bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Samar, and Eastern Samar Tuesday until Wednesday morning, June 2.
Moderate to heavy rains will also prevail over Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Northern Samar, Bohol, the northern portion of Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, Sorsogon, and Masbate.
Light to moderate with at times heavy rains are also likely over Catanduanes, Albay, Camarines Sur, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Camiguin, Bukidnon, Davao Region, and Soccsksargen and the rest of Central Visayas, said the weather bureau.
“Under these conditions and considering antecedent rainfall, scattered flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides are highly likely, especially in areas with high or very high susceptibility to these hazards as identified in hazard maps. Adjacent or nearby areas may also experience flooding in the absence of such rainfall occurrence due to surface runoff or swelling of river channels,” it said.
It also said that Dante will bring strong winds to gale-force winds over the areas where TCWS 2 is hoisted, while strong winds (strong breeze to near gale), which may cause generally very light damage to structures and vegetation, will be experienced in areas where TCWS 1 is in effect.
It also warned that rough to very rough seas will be experienced over the seaboards of areas where TCWS 2 is in effect, and the eastern seaboard of Caraga in the next 24 hours.
“Sea travel is risky for small seacrafts over these waters. Mariners without the proper experience should immediately seek safe harbor,” it said.
Moderate to rough seas are also expected over the eastern seaboard of Davao Oriental and the remaining seaboards of areas where TCWS 1 is in effect. (LMY/SunStar Philippines)