‘Auring’ makes landfall in Northern Samar, heads towards Albay-Sorsogon area

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical depression Auring made landfall over Batag Island in Laoang, Northern Samar on Monday morning and is now heading towards the Albay-Sorsogon area, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Based on the severe weather bulletin issued by Pagasa at 11 a.m., Auring made landfall over Batag Island at 9 a.m. It added that the center of the tropical depression was “relocated.”

According to Pagasa, the center of “Auring” was last spotted 30 kilometers northeast of Catarman, Northern Samar. It is moving north-northwestward at 15 kilometers per hour and is forecast to continue moving generally northwestward throughout the forecast period.

Currently, the weather disturbance is packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.

“The disturbance is forecast to weaken considerably due to significant terrain interaction leading to deterioration into a remnant low within 24 hours or possibly sooner,” Pagasa added.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 remains raised in the following areas:

Luzon

– Sorsogon
– Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands
– Albay
– Catanduanes
– eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Presentacion, Sagnay, Buhi, Iriga City, Nabua, Bato, Balatan)

Visayas

– Northern Samar
– Eastern Samar
– Samar
– Biliran

Weather forecast

According to Pagasa, moderate to heavy rains will be observed in Northern Samar, Bicol Region, Marinduque, Romblon, and Quezon, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains may prevail over Western Visayas, Aurora, Rizal, Samar, northern portion of Eastern Samar and the rest of Mimaropa for the rest of Monday.

Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rains are expected over Camarines Norte, Quezon, and Aurora, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains may be observed in Metro Manila, the rest of Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Camarines Sur, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Isabela, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, and Batanes for Tuesday.

Pagasa also said that in the next 24 hours, the combined effects of the northeast monsoon and “Auring” will bring strong breeze conditions with occasionally higher gusts over the areas where TCWS No. 1 is in effect, as well as over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Aurora, Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Cuyo Islands, Cagayancillo Islands, Western Visayas, and the rest of Eastern Visayas and Bicol Region.

“Under these conditions, isolated to scattered flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides are still likely during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps and in localities that received significant rainfall over the past couple of days,” Pagasa warned.

“Adjacent or nearby areas may also experience flooding in the absence of such rainfall occurrence due to surface runoff or swelling of river channels,” the weather bureau added.

Coastal waters

In the next 24 hours, rough seas will be experienced over the seaboards of areas under TCWS No. 1, the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon, the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon not under any TCWS (2.5 to 3.5 meters), the southern seaboard of Luzon and the remaining seaboards of Eastern Visayas (2.5 to 3.0 meters, according to Pagasa.

The agency warned that sea travel is risky especially for fisherfolks using small seacraft.

Meanwhile, moderate to rough seas (1.2 to 2.5 meters) will be experienced over the remaining seaboards of Luzon and Visayas, as well as the northern, eastern, and western seaboards of Mindanao not under any TCWS.

Pagasa advised mariners of small seacraft to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea, and said inexperienced mariners should avoid navigating the waters under these sea conditions.

JE