1st cyclone to enter PAR to hit VisMin

MANILA, Philippines – The first tropical cyclone to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this year will make landfall in Surigao and is expected to bring rains in most parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the low-pressure area east of Mindanao intensified into a tropical depression yesterday morning and was named Auring.

Weather forecaster Benison Estareja said Auring would maintain its strength as it passes through Mindanao, bringing moderate to heavy rains in central and southern Philippines as well as Palawan.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, Auring was estimated at 185 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. It is moving west-northwest at seven kilometers per hour.

Auring packs maximum winds of up to 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 75 kph.

Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley are under typhoon Signal No. 1.

Residents of areas under typhoon warning signal are alerted against possible flash floods and landslides.

Auring is expected to be 95 kms northwest of Dumaguete City on Tuesday morning and in the vicinity of Puerto Princesa, Palawan on Wednesday.

Auring is expected to exit the country on Thursday.

Meanwhile, PAGASA said cloudy skies with light rains is expected over Cagayan Valley, Aurora and Quezon  due to the northeast monsoon.

Metro Manila as well as the regions of Cordillera, Ilocos and the rest of Central Luzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains.