‘Vinta’ slightly weakens but typhoon signals remain

Tropical storm “Vinta” weakens midday Friday, December 22, 2017. (Satellite image from Pagasa website)

Tropical storm “Vinta” slightly weakened midday Friday after crossing the Davao region, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

However, Signal No. 2 remained hoisted over Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte, North Cotabato, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay.

Signal No. 1, meanwhile, is still raised over Southern Leyte, Bohol, Southern Cebu, Negros Oriental, Southern Negros Occidental, Siquijor, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Camiguin, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, and Basilan.

Packing maximum sustained winds of 80 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 130 kph, Vinta was last spotted in the vicinity of Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. It moved westward at 18 kph.

Pagasa maintained that scattered to widespread moderate to heavy rains would prevail over Visayas and Mindanao within the next 24 hours.                    /kga