Tropical depression Basyang may hit Caraga, parts of VisMin

A tropical depression, which will be named ‘Basyang,’ is likely making its initial landfall in Caraga and will affect large parts of Visayas and Northern Mindanao, bringing heavy rains and threatening winds, according to the state weather bureau on Tuesday.

The weather disturbance developed into a tropical depression from a low pressure area just a few hours ago and will be named ‘Basyang’ once it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

In PAGASA’s 5:00 p.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, pre-Basyang was located 1,075 kilometers east of Northeastern Mindanao, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 70 kph.

It is moving northwestward at less than 10 kph.

As for its track, PAGASA said that the storm’s center is likely to hit Caraga by Thursday afternoon or evening, and will traverse Visayas and Palawan from Friday to Sunday.

Basyang will reach tropical storm category by tomorrow evening or Thursday morning, the highest category during its entire course, which will prompt the hoisting of Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 in affected areas, bringing up to moderate life threatening winds.

PAGASA said it will start issuing Signal No. 1 tomorrow , which will have a lead time of 36 hours, as well as gale warnings, over Eastern Visayas and Caraga.

Meanwhile, PAGASA has issued a separate 24-hour rainfall forecast for more than a dozen areas, effective from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday afternoon, due to the effects of the tropical depression.

Rainfall between 50 to 100 millimeters—an amount equivalent to pouring 100 liters of water over a square meter— is expected in parts of Eastern Samar and Southern Leyte.

The advisory is likewise in effect in 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.

At this rainfall rate, PAGASA cautioned of possible landslides and localized flooding in highly susceptible areas.

Basyang will be the country’s second tropical cyclone this year. The country averages 20 cyclones per year, with 23 recorded last year. — Edg Adrian A. Eva