Tropical Storm Dante maintains strength; Signal No. 1 up in parts of Samar

Satellite image/Himawari IR1 via Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm Dante maintained its strength as of Monday afternoon, state meteorologists said.

The latest severe weather bulletin from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) showed that Dante is still making a northwestward movement at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour (kph).

Forecasters plotted Dante at 375 kilometers east northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Norte, packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is raised over the eastern portion of Northern Samar (Mapanas, Gamay, Lapinig, Palapag, Laoang) and the northeastern part of Eastern Samar (Arteche, San Policarpio).

Pagasa senior weather specialist Chris Perez explained that these areas would not yet feel the effects of Dante, but it may expect winds with speeds of 30 to 60 kph within the next 36 hours.

“Ibig sabihin niyan, meron pa po tayong 36 hours para maghanda para sa mga posibleng malalakas na hangin at pag-ulan na maaaring idulot ng bagyong si Dante habang babaybayin niya itong eastern seaboard ng Visayas,” Perez said.

(That only means that residents still have 36 hours to prepare for possibly strong winds and rains that Tropical Storm Dante may bring as it moves along the eastern seaboard of Visayas.)

“So hindi po agad-agad na kapag may warning signal ngayon ay mararamdaman na ‘yong masungit na panahon, meron pa po tayong 36 hours para maghanda,” he added.

(So, a tropical warning signal does not mean people would immediately feel the effects of the weather disturbance, it only means that there is still around 36 hours to prepare.)

Contrary to earlier predictions where Dante would weaken while at sea, Pagasa now expects the storm to intensify and reach the severe tropical storm category by Wednesday.

But before that, Dante is seen to continue its northwestward movement and might be 250 kilometers east of Borongan City in Eastern Samar on Tuesday afternoon. By Wednesday morning, it would be 245 kilometers east of Juban, Sorsogon, and then make a north northwest path which would put it 275 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora, on Thursday morning.

It would start recurving by Thursday night or Friday — which means Pagasa is still not expecting a landfall scenario for Dante.

However, light to moderate with heavy rains would still be felt over Caraga Region, Davao Region, Eastern Visayas, Bukidnon, and Misamis Oriental because of Dante’s outer rainbands.

Pagasa warned that flash floods and landslides might occur, especially in parts of Mindanao and Visayas that are highly susceptible to these hazards like low-lying areas and those near mountain slopes.

Sea conditions over the eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao would also be moderate to rough, with waves as high as 2.8 meters, prompting the weather bureau to warn small boat operators and fishers to take precautions.

Meanwhile, Pagasa said they are still monitoring the low-pressure area (LPA) outside PAR, even if it is not yet seen to develop as a tropical cyclone.

As of Monday afternoon, the LPA was last seen 1,835 kilometers east of Mindanao.

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