Tropical Depression Basyang enters PAR

MANILA, Philippines – The tropical depression being monitored outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility entered PAR at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, February 3.

It was given the local name Basyang, as the country’s second tropical cyclone for 2026. The first was Tropical Storm Ada (Nokaen) in January.

Basyang was last spotted 965 kilometers east of northeastern Mindanao at 10 pm on Tuesday, moving west at only 10 kilometers per hour (km/h).

The tropical depression still has maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h and gustiness of up to 70 km/h.

But the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 11 pm bulletin that Basyang may strengthen into a tropical storm by Wednesday, February 4, before gradually weakening back into a tropical depression by Friday, February 6, as it hits land.

Basyang is now seen to make landfall in the eastern part of Mindanao or the southern part of Eastern Visayas by Thursday evening, February 5, or Friday morning. Afterwards, it could cross Mindanao and the Visayas until Saturday, February 7, then make landfall in or pass close to the northern portion of Palawan on Sunday, February 8.

While Basyang remains far from land, its trough or extension may already be causing scattered rain and thunderstorms in Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, the Negros Island Region, Caraga, the Davao Region, Northern Mindanao, and the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Starting Thursday, several regions in the Visayas and Mindanao will be experiencing significant rainfall directly due to Basyang. These areas should brace for floods and landslides:

Wednesday evening, February 4, to Thursday evening, February 5

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 millimeters): Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, and Davao Oriental

Thursday evening, February 5, to Friday evening, February 6

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Siquijor, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Camiguin, Bukidnon, and Davao del Norte

As early as Wednesday, Signal No. 1 may also be raised in Caraga, in anticipation of strong winds from the tropical cyclone.

The highest possible tropical cyclone wind signal due to Basyang is Signal No. 2.

PAGASA added that the surge of the northeast monsoon or amihan is bringing strong to gale-force gusts to the following areas:

Wednesday, February 4

• most of Luzon, Visayas, Caraga, Davao Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte

Thursday, February 5

• most of Luzon, Visayas, Caraga, Davao Region, Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi

On Wednesday, conditions in certain seaboards will already be dangerous, especially for small vessels.

Up to very rough seas (travel is risky for all vessels)

• Eastern seaboards of Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Dinagat Islands, Siargao-Bucas Grande Islands, and Surigao del Sur – waves up to 4.5 meters high

Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea)

• Seaboards of Batanes; northern and western seaboards of Babuyan Islands and Ilocos Norte; northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes; eastern seaboards of Albay, Sorsogon, and northern Davao Oriental; northern seaboard of Northern Samar – waves up to 4 meters high
• Remaining seaboards of Babuyan Islands and Ilocos Norte; seaboard of Ilocos Sur; eastern seaboards of Cagayan, Isabela, and northern Aurora; northern seaboards of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur; northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands – waves up to 3.5 meters high
• Remaining seaboards of Cagayan, Davao Oriental, and Aurora – waves up to 3 meters high

Up to moderate seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible)

• Remaining seaboards of Ilocos Region; eastern seaboard of Davao Occidental; seaboards of Kalayaan – waves up to 2.5 meters high
• Western seaboards of Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island, Antique, and Aklan; seaboards of Palawan including Cuyo Islands; eastern seaboard of southern Oriental Mindoro – waves up to 2 meters high

PAGASA previously estimated there would be up to one tropical cyclone in February. – Rappler.com