Signal No. 2 up over 6 areas as Kabayan approaches land

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 is raised over six areas as Tropical Storm Kabayan gears to make landfall along the coast of Davao Oriental or southern Surigao del Sur on Monday morning.

In its 5 a.m. bulletin, state weather bureau PAGASA said the following areas are under TCWS No. 2:

• Dinagat Islands
• Surigao del Norte including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands
• Surigao del Sur
• the northern portion of Agusan del Norte (Kitcharao, Jabonga, Santiago, City of Cabadbaran, Remedios T. Romualdez, Tubay)
• the eastern portion of Agusan del Sur (Trento, Bunawan, San Francisco, Rosario, Prosperidad, City of Bayugan, Sibagat)
• the northern portion of Davao Oriental (Boston, Cateel)

Meanwhile, TCWS No. 1 is hoisted in the following areas:

• The southern portion of mainland Palawan (Sofronio Española, Brooke's Point, Bataraza, Balabac, Rizal, Quezon, Narra) 
• Cagayancillo Islands
• Southern Leyte
• Leyte
• the southern portion of Samar (Basey, Santa Rita, Marabut, Talalora, Villareal, Pinabacdao)
• the southern portion of Eastern Samar (Maydolong, City of Borongan, Quinapondan, Guiuan, Lawaan, Balangiga, Llorente, Giporlos, Salcedo, Balangkayan, General Macarthur, Hernani, Mercedes)
• Cebu including Camotes and Bantayan Islands
• Bohol
• Siquijor
• Negros Oriental
• Negros Occidental
• Guimaras
• the rest of Agusan del Norte
• the rest of Agusan del Sur
• the central portion of Davao Oriental (Baganga, Manay, Caraga, Tarragona, Lupon, Banaybanay)
• Davao de Oro
• Davao del Norte
• Davao City
• Camiguin
• Misamis Oriental
• Bukidnon
• Misamis Occidental
• Lanao del Norte
• Lanao del Sur
• the northern portion of Maguindanao del Norte (Buldon, Barira, Matanog, Parang, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura)
• the northern portion of Cotabato (Arakan, Carmen, Banisilan, Alamada, President Roxas, Kabacan, Matalam, Antipas, Magpet, Libungan, Pigkawayan)
• the northern and central portions of  Zamboanga del Norte (Siayan, Sindangan, Jose Dalman, Manukan, Pres. Manuel A. Roxas, Sergio Osmeña Sr., Katipunan, Dipolog City, Polanco, Mutia, Piñan, Dapitan City, Sibutad, La Libertad, Rizal, Siocon, Baliguian, Gutalac, Labason, Kalawit, Tampilisan, Liloy, Salug, Godod, Bacungan)
• Zamboanga del Sur
• Zamboanga Sibugay

At 4 a.m., Kabayan was located over coastal waters of Caraga, Davao Oriental with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour, gustiness of up to 80 km/h, and central pressure of 1002 hPa.

It was moving west northwestward at 15 km/h.

Kabayan is likely to make landfall as a tropical storm along the coast of Davao Oriental or southern Surigao del Sur Monday morning, PAGASA said.

The tropical cyclone will cross the rugged terrain of Mindanao and emerge over the Sulu Sea between Monday afternoon and evening. 

“Due to frictional effects associated with landfall, KABAYAN is forecast to be downgraded into a tropical depression, and the possibility of being further downgraded into a low pressure area while over land or after emerging over the sea is not ruled out (although in such a case, re-development may still occur over the Sulu Sea),” PAGASA said.

On Monday, an accumulated rainfall of 100-200 mm is expected in Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Agusan del Sur, and the northern portions of Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, and Davao Oriental, PAGASA said.

Meanwhile, 50-100 mm of accumulated rainfall is expected in Central Visayas, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Zamboanga del Norte, Northern Mindanao, Davao City, Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, and the rest of Caraga, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, and Davao del Norte.

According to PAGASA, the forecast rainfall is generally higher in elevated or mountainous areas. 

The weather bureau warned of possible flooding and rain-induced landslides in areas prone to these hazards and those with considerable amounts of rainfall for the past several days.

Heavy rainfall is also expected in the eastern portion of Southern Luzon due to the shear line coinciding with the passage of Kabayan, according to PAGASA.

Minor to moderate impacts from gale force winds may be experienced in areas under TCWS No. 2 while minimal to minor impacts from strong winds are possible in areas under TCWS No. 1.

Due to the Northeast Monsoon surge and Kabayan, a gale warning is in effect for the coastal waters along the seaboard of northern Luzon, the eastern and central seaboards of Visayas, and the eastern seaboards of central Luzon, southern Luzon, and Mindanao. 

“Sea travel is risky for small seacraft (including all motor bancas of any type or tonnage). Mariners of these vessels are advised to remain in port or seek safe harbor,” PAGASA cautioned.

Moderate to rough seas of up to 3.5 meters are also possible over the western seaboards of central and southern Luzon, the western and northern seaboards of Mindanao, and the remaining seaboard of Visayas.

“Mariners of motor bancas and similarly-sized vessels are advised to take precautionary measures while venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions, especially if inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels,” PAGASA said.  —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA Integrated News