‘Dante’ intensifies into tropical storm

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression “Dante” is expected to intensify to a tropical storm on Monday even as it slowed down on Sunday afternoon in the Philippine Sea east of Mindanao.

Residents in Central and Eastern Visayas and the whole of Mindanao should expect cloudy skies, scattered showers and thunderstorms at the start of this week, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Those living in Caraga and Davao regions should also brace for potential heavy rainfall from the cyclone’s outer rain bands.

As of 3 p.m. on Sunday, the weather system was estimated at 835 kilometers east of Mindanao. It packed winds of up to 55 km per hour and gusts of up to 70 kph.

Pagasa senior weather specialist Chris Perez said Dante was moving 15 kph toward the west-northwest direction.

Based on its forecast track, Dante is not expected to hit land. Pagasa said Dante was expected to intensify until the middle of the week, before eventually losing strength by Wednesday night. —Jhesset O. Enano