Pagasa: Storm may develop in 24 hours, landfall in Caraga

The low pressure area (LPA) dumping rain in Bicol, the Visayas, and Mindanao may soon become the first storm of 2018 as the weather bureau expects it to develop into a tropical depression within 24 hours.

In its 11 a.m. advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the LPA could develop into a tropical depression Monday night or Tuesday morning before making landfall over the Caraga region.

The tropical depression will be called “Agaton,” Pagasa said.

Should the LPA develop into a tropical depression, tropical cyclone warning signal no. 1 will be raised along the track of the storm, the bureau said. It will affect maritime operations along the eastern seaboard of Mindanao, including the provinces of Surigao, Davao Oriental, Dinagat Islands, and Siargao Island.

The LPA was spotted 385 kilometers east southeast of Surigao City in Surigao del Norte at 10 a.m., Pagasa said.

It continues to bring cloudy skies and with moderate to heavy rain over the regions of Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Caraga, and Davao, the bureau said. /cbb