PAGASA: Auring weakens slightly, can slow down further before Caraga landfall

MANILA — Tropical Storm Auring slightly weakened on Saturday afternoon, according to PAGASA, and could further slow down into tropical depression before its forecasted landfall over the Caraga region. 

The state weather bureau said the storm, which packs maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, with gusts of up to 80 kph, was last spotted 440 kilometers East Southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur at 4 p.m. 

It is moving northwestward at 15 kph. 

"It will likely further weaken to Low Pressure Area by Monday due to significant terrain interaction and persistent vertical wind shear during this passage over the archipelago," the weather agency explained in its 5 p.m. bulletin. 

The country's first storm for the year is forecast to move northwestward, and is also expected to make landfall over the areas Dinagat-Homonhon-Leyte late Sunday or early Monday. 

After this, Auring is forecast to cross Visayas and Mimaropa, according to PAGASA. 

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Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1, where winds of 30 to 60 kph, which may cause light damage to high-risk structures, may be expected within 36 hours, was raised over the following areas:

LUZON 

• The southeastern portion of Masbate (Cataingan, Cawayan, Dimasalang, Esperanza, Palanas, Pio V. Corpuz, Placer)

VISAYAS

• Northern Samar 
• Eastern Samar
• Samar, Biliran
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Cebu
• Negros Oriental
• Bohol
• Siquijor
• the northern portion of Negros Occidental (Bacolod City, Bago City, Cadiz City, Calatrava, Enrique B. Magalona, Escalante City, Manapla, Murcia, Sagay City, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City, Silay City, Talisay City, Toboso, Victorias City)

MINDANAO 

• Dinagat Islands
• Surigao del Norte
• Surigao del Sur
• Agusan del Norte
• Agusan del Sur
• Davao Oriental
• Davao de Oro
• Davao del Norte
• Davao City
• Camiguin
• Misamis Oriental
• Bukidnon

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains, said PAGASA, will prevail over Caraga and Eastern Visayas until Saturday night.

The Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and Eastern Visayas, however, will be experiencing moderate to heavy rains on Sunday. 

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains will also be experienced over Northern Mindanao, Bicol Region, MIMAROPA, Quezon, and the rest of Visayas and Caraga also on Sunday, according to the weather bureau. 

The weather agency warned the areas highly susceptible to floods and landslides that such hazards could happen due to prolonged and heavy rainfall. 

"Adjacent or nearby areas may also experience flooding in the absence of such rainfall occurrence due to surface runoff or swelling of river channels," PAGASA explained. 

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