Tropical depression ‘Auring’, the Philippines’ first tropical cyclone of the year, has entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) via east of Mindanao according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Agency (PAGASA).
PAGASA said Auring may make landfall over the east coast of Caraga-Davao region on Saturday evening or Sunday morning as a tropical storm.
PAGASA weather specialist Joey Figuracion says Auring was last spotted 900 kilometers southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. It has maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.
Auring will move westward or west-southwestward in the next 12 hours.
No area is currently under any Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal yet. PAGASA said, Signal No. 1 may be raised by Friday over several provinces in Caraga and Davao Region.
The state weather agency expects Auring to be at 290km east, southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur by Saturday morning. By Sunday morning, it is expected to be in the vicinity of Sun Jabonga, Agusan Del Norte, then in Maasin, Iloilo by Monday.
PAGASA said that though Auring is currently not affecting any part of the country, areas highly or very highly susceptible to hazards are advised to take preparatory measures namely the Visayas, Bicol, MIMAROPA, Caraga, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Cotabato, and Lanao del Sur. – Rommel F. Lopez