Auring now a tropical storm; heavy weekend rainfall seen in 13 areas

Tropical Depression Auring has intensified into a tropical storm on Thursday morning, according to the latest weather update by PAGASA.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Auring intensified while moving slowly northwestward over the Philippine Sea.

However, Auring "is not yet expected to bring heavy rains" although there is an "increasing likelihood of heavy rainfall" affecting the following areas over the weekend through Monday:

• Visayas,
• Caraga,
• Northern Mindanao,
• Bicol Region,
• CALABARZON,
• Davao Oriental,
• Davao de Oro,
• Davao del Norte,
• Lanao del Sur,
• Mindoro Provinces,
• Marinduque,
• Romblon,
• Northern Palawan including Calamian and Cuyo Islands

PAGASA said as 10 a.m. of Thursday, the center of Auring was estimated at 685 km east Southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur (07.1 °N, 132.4 °E). It is slowly moving northwestward with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has urged the public to prepare for heavy to intense rains due to Auring, which entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday.

According to the NDRRMC, Auring may cause flooding and rain-induced landslides in highly susceptible areas. 

As of Thursday morning, no tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS)  was raised in any part of the country.

However, TCWS number 1 may be raised over several provinces of Caraga and Davao Region as early as Friday, which may result in disruption of maritime activities in anticipation of the arrival of strong breeze to near-gale conditions, PAGASA said.

Hazards on coastal waters

Meanwhile, PAGASA said rough to very rough seas (2.8 to 5.0 m) are expected in the next 24 hours over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao due to the surge of the Northeast Monsoon and Auring.

Sea travel will be risky over the said areas, especially for mariners of small seacraft.

Moderate to rough seas (1.2 to 3.1 m) will meanwhile be experienced over the rest of the seaboards of the country.

Mariners of small seacrafts are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea, while inexperienced mariners should avoid navigating in these conditions.  --KBK, GMA News