MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm Auring is still hovering on waters off Mindanao island as of Thursday afternoon, but state meteorologists warned this lingering means it could intensify into a severe tropical storm before making landfall.
Latest updates from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) showed that Auring was last seen 640 kilometers east southeast of Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur, slowly moving northwest over eastern Mindanao waters at a speed of 10 kilometers per hour (kph).
As Auring spends more time over the sea, intensifying into a severe tropical storm between Friday and Saturday is more probable even as it now slightly strengthened to maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
Pagasa said Auring does not have a direct effect on the country yet but its trough was seen to be extending over the eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao, causing moderate winds and rains over the eastern provinces of the two regions. For Friday, several coastal towns may already start feeling the effects of Auring with moderate winds or light rains.
This also prompted the state weather bureau to place a gale warning over the country’s entire eastern seaboards, barring fisherfolk and small boat operators from sailing in these areas.
Pagasa said Auring may hit land in the northern portions of Caraga Region between Saturday night and Sunday morning if it continues its northwestward movement. However, tropical cyclone wind signals may already be raised as early as Friday.
The areas of Caraga, Northern Mindanao, Visayas, Bicol Region, Calabarzon, and Mimaropa may all experience heavy rains from this weekend through Monday.
“Posible po ‘yang magdulot ng malawakang pagbaha at pagguho ng lupa. Ang ating mga kababayang nakatira dito at ‘yong mga DRRM officers ay pinaghahanda laban sa mga hazards na ito,” weather specialist Ariel Rojas said.
(Continuous rains can cause widespread flooding and landslides. People living near these areas and the disaster risk reduction management officers are advised to prepare against these hazards.)
“‘Yong mga nakatira po sa mga mababang lugar, sa tabing ilog at tabing sapa at sa mga bulubunduking lugar ay pinapayuhan po na makinig sa kanilang mga LGUs kung kinakailangan ang paglikas,” he added.
(Those living in low-lying areas, those near rivers or tributaries, and those in mountain slopes are advised to heed the local government units’ order if they need to evacuate their homes.)
For Luzon, Pagasa said the eastern portion — from Cagayan Valley to Southern Luzon and Bicol Region — will also experience rain on Friday, but this is due to the northeast monsoon or amihan.
Amihan will also influence the rest of Luzon, which means fairer weather in these areas will be likely with warm conditions by midday.
The temperature in Metro Manila will be 22 to 31 degrees Celsius while Laoag and Tuguegarao will be 21 to 29 degrees Celsius. Baguio will register 13 to 22 degrees Celsius; Tagaytay, 20 to 29 degrees Celsius; and Legazpi, 24 to 30 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, Auring will bring lower temperatures in Visayas and Mindanao – ranging from 24 to 28 degrees Celsius in Tacloban, 24 to 30 degrees Celsius in Cebu and Iloilo, and 22 to 30 degrees Celsius in Davao City and Cagayan de Oro.
Additionally, Pagasa raised a gale warning in the country’s northern waters – Ilocos Region, Cagayan including the Babuyan Islands, and Batanes – and the western coastlines of Ilocos Region and Central Luzon.