More areas under Signal No. 1 as Dante predicted to graze eastern areas

MANILA, Philippines — More areas were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 as Tropical Storm Dante’s forecast track moved closer to the country’s eastern provinces, state meteorologists said on Monday night.

The latest severe weather bulletin from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that the following areas are under Signal No. 1:

Luzon

eastern portion of Sorsogon (City of Sorsogon, Magallanes, Bulan, Juban, Irosin, Santa Magdalena, Matnog, Bulusan, Barcelona, Casiguran, Gubat, Prieto Diaz)

eastern portion of Albay (Rapu-Rapu)

Visayas

Northern Samar

Samar

Eastern Samar

Biliran

eastern portion of Leyte (Leyte, Capoocan, Kananga, Jaro, Dagami, Burauen, Ormoc City, Javier, Mahaplag, Abuyog, Macarthur, Mayorga, La Paz, Dulag, Julita, Tolosa, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Palo, Tacloban City, Santa Fe, Pastrana, Alangalang, San Miguel, Barugo, Tunga, Carigara, Babatngon)

eastern portion of Southern Leyte (Sogod, Libagon, Saint Bernard, San Juan, Anahawan, Hinundayan, Silago, Hinunangan)

Mindanao

Dinagat Island and Siargao

Bucas Grande Islands

According to Pagasa, areas under Signal No. 1 will have strong winds as the storm passes near them. There’s a possibility that higher wind warnings will be declared depending on the storm’s intensity in the coming hours.

Dante had maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.  Its eye was last seen 375 km east of Surigao City in Surigao del Norte. It was moving northwest at 20 kph.

Residents of Eastern Visayas, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur may expect moderate to heavy rains from Monday night to Tuesday evening, while light to moderate rains with at times heavy rains may be felt over Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Cebu, Bohol, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Soccsksargen, and the rest of Caraga and Davao Region.

“Under these conditions and considering antecedent rainfall, scattered flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides are highly likely, especially in areas with high or very high susceptibility to these hazards as identified in hazard maps,” Pagasa said.

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

Pagasa is now not ruling out a landfall scenario for Dante, as its forecast track has moved closer to the landmass.

By Tuesday night, it is expected to be just 110 kilometers east northeast of Borongan City in Eastern Samar — although the cone of uncertainty now includes a huge chunk of the province.

This means that there is a possibility that Dante would either move to the west, which would ensure landfall or move to the east and stay above the Philippine Sea.

After grazing the easternmost parts of the Bicol Region, it will move 225 km east of Infanta, Quezon or 145 km  northeast of Daet, Camarines Norte, on Wednesday night.

During this time, Dante would have progressed as a severe tropical storm, before weakening while moving north, over waters east of Cagayan Valley.

Sea condition over the eastern seaboards of Eastern Visayas and Caraga would be rough to very rough, prompting Pagasa to warn small boats and other seacrafts against sailing in these areas.

[atm]