MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm Crising is expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds over several parts of Mindanao and Palawan province on Friday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.
Weather forecasters said Crising made landfall in Baganga town, Davao Oriental province, at 8:20 p.m. on Thursday. It was expected to weaken into a tropical depression as it crosses Mindanao over the weekend.
When it was about 150 kilometers southeast of Hinatuan town in Surigao del Sur province more than four hours earlier, Crising was packing sustained winds of 65 km per hour with gusts of up to 85 kph.
Storm warnings
Storm Signal No. 2 has been raised over the southern portions of Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur provinces, and the northern portions of Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, and Davao del Norte provinces.
Storm Signal No. 1 was declared over Surigao del Norte including Bucas Grande and Siargao Islands and the rest of Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, and Davao del Norte.
The southeastern portion of Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Davao City, Bukidnon, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, and the northeastern portions of Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte were also placed under the same storm warning.
Moderate to rough seasPagasa warned of gale-force winds in areas under Storm Signal No. 2, and a strong breeze to near-gale conditions, especially in coastal and mountainous areas, where Storm Signal No. 1 was declared.
Small seacrafts are advised not to venture out over the eastern seaboard of Mindanao, which will have moderate to rough seas due to the storm.
Crising is expected to emerge over Sulu Sea early Saturday and further weaken by Sunday morning after passing over Palawan province.
It is expected to leave Philippine territory by Sunday afternoon.
Crising is the third tropical cyclone with the country’s area of responsibility this year, following Typhoon “Bising” (international name: Surigae) in April, one of the strongest storms on record.