Queenie downgraded into a tropical depression, may still bring rains over Caraga, Davao

Tropical Storm Queenie (international name: Banyan) was downgraded into a tropical depression on Tuesday morning, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

“Queenie was downgraded into tropical depression category at 8:00 a.m. today,” PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. bulletin.

“Due to unfavorable environment conditions, this tropical cyclone will continue to weaken and may become a remnant low within 12 hours,” it added.

Queenie however would still bring light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Caraga and Davao Oriental.

“Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazard as identified in hazard maps and in localities with significant antecedent rainfall,” it said.

Raising Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals over the eastern portion of Caraga and some areas in Eastern Visayas is unlikely due to the possible weakening of Queenie, according to PAGASA.

Moderate to rough seas up to 3.0 meters may be experienced over the eastern seaboard of Mindanao.

"These conditions may be risky for those using small seacrafts in the next 24 hours due to Queenie. Mariners are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions,” PAGASA said.

Queenie was last spotted at 10 a.m. at 490 kilometers east of Davao City or 425 km east southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur packing maximum sustained winds of 45 km per hour and gustiness of up to 55 km/h.

It is moving westward slowly.

From Queenie's center, strong winds are extending outwards up to 180 km.

The tropical depression is expected to keep moving westward in the next 12 hours while moving over the Philippine Sea, east of Mindanao, according to PAGASA.

The weather bureau will issue the next bulletin at 5 p.m. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News