Heavy rainfall over Visayas, Mindanao as Querubin weakens

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression Querubin weakened into a low pressure area (LPA) on Wednesday afternoon, but heavy to intense rainfall is still expected over parts of the Visayas and Mindanao on Thursday, according to an advisory from the government weather bureau.

Weather specialist Daniel James Villamil said that the LPA would still cause rains over the eastern section of Visayas and Mindanao.

“Meanwhile, its trough or extension would bring cloudy skies and scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms for the rest of Visayas and Mindanao,” Villamil added.

READ: Querubin maintains strength, Signal No. 1 in Surigao del Sur

In a weather advisory issued at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said heavy to intense rainfall was expected on Thursday over the provinces of Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte.

This amount of rainfall could cause floods and landslides in moderate to highly susceptible areas, according to the advisory.

As of 4 p.m. on Wednesday, the LPA was located 275 kilometers east of Surigao City in Surigao del Norte. From Thursday until Sunday, Pagasa said that the LPA would cross over Mindanao and head toward the Sulu Sea before reaching Palawan. —Gillian Villanueva