MANILA, Philippines — Auring weakened into a tropical depression on Sunday night as it moved closer to the northern portion of Dinagat Islands, according to the 11:00 p.m. bulleting of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.
Auring had maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and a gustiness of up to 70 kph.
It was last seen 210 km east of Surigao City, moving west-northwest at 15 kph.
According to PAGASA, there’s a chance that Auring would further weaken even before it makes landfall over Dinagat Islands, the southern part of Eastern Samar, or Leyte.
Predictions that Auring would weaken is based on its interaction with the dry and cold winds from the northeast monsoon, or amihan, and the mountainous terrain that it would cross.
It’s also possible that after 24 hours — or by the time it moves over the vicinity of Ivisan, Capiz — that Auring would have regressed into a low pressure area (LPA).
“There is an increasing likelihood that Auring will further weaken before it makes landfall due to persistent high vertical wind shear associated with the surge of the Northeast Monsoon,” Pagasa said.
“Post-landfall, Auring is forecast to weaken considerably due to significant terrain interaction and the increasing wind shear, leading to deterioration into a remnant low within 24 hours, possibly sooner,” it added.
As Auring weakened into a tropical depression, no area is currently under a Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2.
However, the following remaining areas were placed under Signal No.1:
- parts of Bicol Region (Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Albay, Catanduanes, eastern portion of Camarines Sur)
- parts of Eastern Visayas (Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte)
- parts of Central Visayas (Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor, northern and eastern portions of Negros Oriental
- parts of Western Visayas (northern and central portions of Negros Occidental, eastern portion of Iloilo, eastern portion of Capiz)
- parts of Caraga Region (Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, the northern portion of Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, the northern portion of Agusan del Sur
- parts of Northern Mindanao (eastern portion of Misamis Oriental, Camiguin)
Pagasa still warned of moderate to heavy rains from Sunday night to Monday morning in Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and Camiguin.
Light to moderate with at times heavy rains may also persist over Bicol Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Mimaropa, Quezon province, and the rest of Visayas, Caraga, and Northern Mindanao.
From Monday morning to Monday night, moderate to heavy rains may be felt in Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Quezon province, Marinduque, and Romblon.
Light to moderate rains with at times heavy rains may pour over Aurora, and the rest of Visayas, Calabarzon, and Mimaropa.
Pagasa also reminded fisherfolk and those using small seacraft that rough seas will prevail over the seaboards of areas under Signal No. 1, and in areas under a gale warning including the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon, the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon, the southern seaboard of Luzon and the remaining seaboards of Visayas.
[atm]