By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Tropical Depression Basyang maintains its strength as it moves southwestward over waters east of Mindanao, according to PAGASA’s 11:00 a.m. bulletin.
Basyang was last located 735 km east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph as it moves southwestward at 15 kph.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has hoisted Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 in the eastern portion of Surigao del Norte (including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands).
However, a gale warning is raised over the eastern seaboard of Visayas this Wednesday, with the state weather bureau advising owners of small vessels to refrain from sailing in the coastal waters of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar due to rough seas that can generate between 2.8-4.5 meter high waves.
Rough seas are also expected over the following coastal areas:
- Up to 4.0 m: The northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes; the eastern seaboards of Albay and Sorsogon; the northern seaboard of Northern Samar.
- Up to 3.5 m: The eastern seaboards of Isabela and northern Aurora; the northern seaboards of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur; the northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands; the remaining seaboard of Davao Oriental.
- Up to 3.0 m: The seaboards of Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and Ilocos Norte; the remaining seaboards of Eastern Samar and Dinagat Islands; the eastern seaboard of southern Davao del Sur.
Basyang is forecast to move westward for the next 36 hours before turning west northwestward on Thursday evening (Feb. 5). The weather system may make landfall over eastern Mindanao between Thursday and Friday (Feb. 6).
The tropical cyclone is also expected to gradually intensify while over the Philippine Sea and may reach tropical storm category before landfall.
jpv
