Tropical depression “Auring” intensified into a tropical storm Thursday ahead of its landfall over Caraga region this weekend, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
In its 11 a.m. severe weather bulletin, PAGASA said Auring was last spotted about 685 kilometers (km) East Southeast of Hinatuan town, Surigao del Sur, at 10 a.m. on Thursday, with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
“On the forecast track, ‘Auring’ may intensify into severe tropical storm prior to landfall over Caraga on Saturday evening or Sunday morning,” PAGASA said.
PAGASA said there is “increased likelihood” of heavy rains over Visayas, Caraga, Northern Mindanao, Bicol Region, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) region, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Mindoro Provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, Northern Palawan including Calamian and Cuyo Islands this weekend through Monday.
“Residents in these areas and all disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned, especially those situated in areas identified in hazard maps to be highly or very highly susceptible to flooding and rain-induced landslides, are advised to take appropriate preparatory measures,” it said.
The state weather bureau said no locality is currently under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) number 1.
However, TCWS number 1 may be raised over several provinces of Caraga and Davao Region as early as Friday, in anticipation of the strong breeze to near-gale conditions due to Auring. (Aldrin Casinas)
