TD Auring, first cyclone to hit Philippines in 2021, enters PAR

Auring, the first tropical cyclone to hit the country this 2021, has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), PAGASA said on Wednesday. 

In its 11 a.m. advisory, PAGASA said the tropical depression located southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur entered PAR at 8 a.m. and was named "Auring."

Auring is forecast to move generally westward or west-southwestward in the following 12 hours.

It will then move generally west-northwestward, and is forecast to make landfall over Caraga on Saturday evening or Sunday morning as a tropical storm.

Auring is not affecting any part of the country at the moment, but localities in Visayas, Bicol Region, MIMAROPA, Caraga, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Cotabato, and Lanao del Sur, especially those situated in areas identified to be highly or very highly susceptible to the hazards, are advised to take appropriate preparatory measures for possible heavy rains and gusty conditions.

The weather disturbance due to the passage of the Auring is seen to occur during the weekend through Monday.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) number 1 was not issued in any locality, but it may be raised over several provinces of Caraga and Davao Region as early as Friday in anticipation of the arrival of strong breeze to near-gale conditions due to Auring.

This may result in the disruption of maritime activities, PAGASA said.

At 10 a.m., the center of Tropical Depression Auring was estimated based on all available data at 900 km east southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.

It is moving west southwestward at 20 kph, with maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.

Meanwhile, the Tail-End of a Frontal System is expected to bring moderate to heavy rains over Eastern Visayas, Sorsogon, Masbate, Albay, Catanduanes and light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Central Visayas, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and the rest of Bicol Region. 

PAGASA said isolated flooding and rain-induced landslides may occur due to heavy rainfall or prolonged periods of rainfall, especially in areas identified in hazard maps to be highly or very highly susceptible to the said hazards.

Adjacent or nearby areas may also experience flooding in the absence of such rainfall occurrence due to surface runoff or swelling of river channels, the weather bureau added. —Jamil Santos/KG, GMA News