‘Domeng’ may intensify, hit Visayas, says Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines—While it weakened to a tropical depression on Monday, “Domeng” is expected to intensify anew as it heads toward Eastern Visayas where it is anticipated on Thursday evening, the weather bureau said.

Forecasters from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said they anticipate the tropical cyclone would exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday.

Pagasa weather forecasting section chief Rene Paciente said that once Domeng makes landfall in Surigao del Sur, it is expected to cross over to southern Cebu, southern Negros and Bohol before exiting through northern Palawan and Coron.

As of 5 p.m. on Monday, Paciente said Domeng was 670 kilometers east of Davao City with maximum winds of 55 kilometers per hour, and was moving slower toward the west-northwest at 13 kph.

In Pagasa’s forecast for Tuesday, Mindanao and the Eastern and Central Visayas and Cagayan Valley regions will have cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and isolated thunderstorms, while Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy, with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.

Domeng is expected to move 480 km east of Davao City by Tuesday morning. By Wednesday it would be at 290 km east-northeast of Davao City, and in the vicinity of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, by Thursday.

Moderate to strong winds will prevail over the northern and eastern sections of the country, where coastal waters will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate with slight to moderate seas.

Paciente said the tropical cyclone could still change track, moving slightly lower or higher. “As of now, we see no chance of it affecting Metro Manila,” he said.—With a report from Karlos Manlupig, Inquirer Mindanao