MANILA, Philippines — The center of Tropical Depression ‘Auring’ made landfall over Batag Island, Laoang, Northern Samar at 9:00 AM Monday (February 22).

The weather disturbance is now headed towards the Albay-Sorsogon area, according to the latest forecast from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Still, moderate to heavy rains prevail over Northern Samar, Bicol Region, Marinduque, Romblon, and Quezon while light to moderate with at times heavy rains is beijing experienced in areas in Western Visayas, Aurora, Rizal, Samar, northern portion of Eastern Samar and the rest of MIMAROPA.

In the next 24 hours, the combined effects of the Northeast Monsoon and TD Auring will bring strong breeze conditions with occasionally higher gusts over the areas where Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) #1 is in effect:

Luzon

• Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Albay, Catanduanes, and the eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Presentacion, Sagnay, Buhi, Iriga City, Nabua, Bato, Balatan)

Visayas

• Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, and Biliran

Similar weather condition will continue in areas of Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Aurora, Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Cuyo Islands, Cagayancillo Islands, Western Visayas, and the rest of Eastern Visayas and Bicol Region.

Tropical Depression Auring is seen to continue moving generally northwestward throughout the forecast period and may weaken considerably due to significant terrain interaction leading to deterioration into a remnant low within 24 hours or possibly sooner.

MANILA, Philippines – State weather agency PAGASA said tropical depression Auring continues to weaken and may initially make landfall over Eastern Samar in the next 6 to 12 hours as a tropical depression or a remnant low pressure area (LPA).

On Monday (February 22), moderate to heavy rains over Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Marinduque, Romblon, and Quezon. 

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Aurora and the rest of Visayas, MIMAROPA, and CALABARZON.

In the next 24 hours, the combined effects of the Northeast Monsoon and TD Auring will bring strong breeze conditions with occasionally higher gusts over the areas where Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) #1 is in effect.

Similar weather conditions will prevail over Aurora, Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Batanes, Babuyan Islands, the northern portions of Ilocos Norte and mainland Cagayan, Cuyo Islands, Cagayancillo Islands, and the rest of Visayas and Bicol Region.

Areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) #1

Luzon

• Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Albay, Catanduanes, and the eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Presentacion, Sagnay, Buhi, Iriga City, Nabua, Bato, Balatan)

• Visayas

Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, the northern portion of Cebu (Balamban, Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, Asturias, Danao City, Carmen, Catmon, Sogod, Tuburan, Borbon, San Remigio, Tabuelan, Tabogon, Bogo City, Medellin, Daanbantayan) including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, the northern portion of Negros Occidental (Enrique B. Magalona, Victorias City, Manapla, Cadiz City, Sagay City, Toboso, Escalante City, Calatrava), the eastern portion of Capiz (Cuartero, Dumarao, Ma-Ayon, Pontevedra, Panay, President Roxas, Panitan, Dao, Pilar), and the eastern portion of Iloilo (Lemery, Ajuy, Sara, Concepcion, San Dionisio, Batad, Estancia, Balasan, Carles, San Rafael, Passi City, Barotac Viejo, Banate, San Enrique)

Mindanao

• Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte

PAGASA warns moderate to rough seas will be experienced over the remaining seaboards of Luzon, and the northern, eastern, and western seaboards of Mindanao not under any TCWS. 

Mariners of small seacrafts are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea. Inexperienced mariners should avoid navigating in these conditions.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has lowered the category of Auring into a Tropical Depression as it is forecast to continue moving generally northwestward in the next 24 hours, according to the weather bureau’s 11:00 pm update.

On the forecast track and its probability cone, the tropical depression may initially make landfall over the Dinagat Islands-Eastern Samar (southern portion including Homonhon Island)-Leyte area in the next 6 to 12 hours.

The state weather center said there is an increasing likelihood that Auring will further weaken before it makes landfall due to persistent high vertical wind shear associated with the surge of the Northeast Monsoon.

Post-landfall, Auring is forecast to weaken considerably due to significant terrain interaction and the increasing wind shear, leading to deterioration into a remnant low within 24 hours, possibly sooner.

As of 10:00 pm on Sunday, the center of Tropical Depression Auring was estimated based on all available data at 210 km East of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte (09.9 °N, 127.4 °E ), and is moving West Northwestward at 15 km/h with maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 70 km/h.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) #1 is hoisted over the following areas.

Luzon:

• Sorsogon
• Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands
• Albay
• Catanduanes
• Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Presentacion, Sagnay, Buhi, Iriga City, Nabua, Bato, Balatan)

Visayas:

• Northern Samar
• Eastern Samar
• Samar
• Biliran
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Bohol
• Cebu
• Siquijor
• Negros Oriental (Dumaguete City, Sibulan, San Jose, Amlan, Pamplona, Tanjay City, Bais City, Manjuyod, Bindoy, Ayungon, Tayasan, Jimalalud, La Libertad, Guihulngan City, Canlaon City, Vallehermoso)
• Negros Occidental (Binalbagan, Isabela, Moises Padilla, La Castellana, La Carlota City, Bago City, Pontevedra, Hinigaran, San Enrique, Valladolid, Pulupandan, Murcia, San Carlos City, Bacolod City, Salvador Benedicto, Calatrava, Talisay City, Silay City, Enrique B. Magalona, Victorias City, Manapla, Cadiz City, Sagay City, Escalante City, Toboso)
• Iloilo (Dumangas, Barotac Nuevo, Anilao, San Rafael, Barotac Viejo, Banate, Passi City, San Enrique, Dingle, Lemery, Ajuy, Sara, Concepcion, San Dionisio, Batad, Estancia, Balasan, Carles)
• Capiz (Cuartero, Dumarao, Ma-Ayon, Pontevedra, Panay, President Roxas, Panitan, Dao, Pilar)

Mindanao:

• Dinagat Islands
• Surigao del Norte
• Surigao del Sur (Lianga, Barobo, San Agustin, Marihatag, Cagwait, Bayabas, Tago, San Miguel, Tandag City, Cortes, Lanuza, Carmen, Madrid, Cantilan, Carrascal)
• Agusan del Norte
• Agusan del Sur (Bayugan City, Prosperidad, Sibagat)
• Misamis Oriental (Gingoog City, Magsaysay, Medina, Talisayan, Claveria, Balingasag, Lagonglong, Balingoan, Kinoguitan, Sugbongcogon, Binuangan, Salay)
• Camiguin

The state weather center also said that in the next 24 hours, the combined effects of the Northeast Monsoon and Auring will bring strong breeze to near-gale conditions with occasionally higher gusts over the areas where TCWS #1 is in effect, as well as over the southern portion of Aurora, Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Cuyo Islands, Cagayancillo Islands, and the rest of Visayas and Bicol Region.

PAGASA advisory added that rough seas will be experienced over the seaboards of areas under TCWS #1 (2.5 to 4.0 m), the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon, the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon not under any TCWS (2.5 to 3.5 m), the southern seaboard of Luzon and the remaining seaboards of Visayas (2.5 to 3.0 m). Sea travel is risky especially for those using small seacrafts.

Moderate to rough seas (1.2 to 3.0 m) will be experienced over the remaining seaboards of the country. Mariners of small seacrafts are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea. Inexperienced mariners should avoid navigating in these conditions.