DAVAO CITY (MIndaNews / 17 December) – Ten out of 28 provinces in Mindanao have been placed under Storm Signal 1 as of 2 p.m. Sunday, as tropical depression ‘Kabayan’ maintained its strength while moving northwestward east of Mindanao, according to the Tropical Cyclone Bulletin 4 of the state weather bureau.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said ‘Kabayan’ is forecast to track generally westward or west northwestward across the Philippines over the next two days and is likely to maintain its strength until its initial landfall over Mindanao – likely along the coast of Surigao del Sur or Davao Oriental, on Sunday night or early Monday morning.
From there, ‘Kabayan’ is expected to “cross the rugged terrain of Mindanao, and emerge over Bohol Sea or Sulu Sea” Monday morning or afternoon.
The 2 p.m. December 17 advisory said the center of ‘Kabayan’ was estimated based on all available data at 440 km East of Davao City, moving north northwestward “slowly” and packing maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 70 km/h.
PAGASA forecasts ‘Kabayan’ to be 130 km east southeast of Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur by 11 p.m. Sunday, over the coastal waters of Laguindingan in Misamis Oriental in Mindanao by 11 a.m. Monday, and 255 km west of Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental, Visayas, by 11 p.m. on December 18 and Palawan by December 19 and out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility by 11 a.m on December 20.
PAGASA noted that due to frictional effects associated with landfall, ‘Kabayan’ is forecast to weaken over land. The weather bureau is not ruling out the possibility of being downgraded into a low pressure area while over land or after emerging over the sea. But it added that in such a case, “re-development may still occur over the Sulu Sea.
For the remainder of Monday and Tuesday morning, ‘Kabayan’ will move across the Sulu Sea south of Cuyo Islands and is expected to make another landfall over central or southern Palawan as a tropical depression by Tuesday morning, “then emerge over the Philippine Sea by noon or early afternoon of the same day” and from there it may pass near or over Kalayaan Islands in the West Philippine Sea.
PAGASA noted that the projected track and intensity of ‘Kabayan’ are subject to change, “given its nature and strength.”
Ten provinces in Mindanao and five provinces in Visayas were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal 1.
In Mindanao, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, the northern portion of Davao Oriental (Cateel, Boston, Baganga), the northern portion of Davao de Oro (Monkayo, Laak), Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, and the northern portion of Bukidnon (Impasug-Ong, Malitbog, Manolo Fortich, Sumilao, Libona, Baungon, Cabanglasan, City of Malaybalay)
And in the Visayas, the southern portion of Samar (Basey, Santa Rita, Marabut, Talalora, Villareal, Pinabacdao), the southern portion of Eastern Samar (Maydolong, City of Borongan, Quinapondan, Guiuan, Lawaan, Balangiga, Llorente, Giporlos, Salcedo, Balangkayan, General Macarthur, Hernani, Mercedes), Leyte, Southern Leyte, Bohol, and Camotes Islands
PAGASA’s forecast of accumulated rainfall on Sunday and Monday is 100 to 200 mm in Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, and Southern Leyte; 50 to 100 mm in Davao Region, Northern Mindanao and the rest of Caraga in Mindanao, and Eastern Visayas on Sunday; and 50-100 mm on Sunday in Northern Mindanao and the rest of Caraga in Mindanao, and Eastern Visayas and Central Visayas.
PAGASA’s advisory said ‘Kabayan’ is expected to move across the Sulu Sea south of Cuyo Islands on Monday and Tuesday. The tropical cyclone is forecast to make another landfall over central or southern Palawan as a tropical depression by Tuesday morning, then emerge over the Philippine Sea by noon or early afternoon of the same day. Afterwards, Kabayan may pass near or over Kalayaan Islands in the West Philippine Sea, it said. (MindaNews)