‘Dante’ may become a storm in next 36 hours

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) – The center of tropical depression Dante was found 730 km Northeast of Casiguran in Aurora province at 4 pm on Saturday, May 8.

According to PAGASA, Dante has a maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center. It is expected to move Northeast at a speed of 11 km.

The Low Pressure Area hovering within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) was initially found northeast of Virac, Catanduanes and developed into a tropical depression Friday night.

Earlier in the morning of Saturday, it was spotted at 690 km east of Casiguran, Aurora with a maximum sustained wind of 45 kph near the center. 

Dante has the potential to turn into a storm within the next 36 hours, said PAGASA weather forecast Joey Figuracion, but it is not expected to make landfall due to its forecast track. 

At 4 am of Saturday, Dante was forecast to move north northwest at 11 kph, a direction away from the country. Based on the morning forecast, Figuracion said the potential cyclone is expected to be out of PAR by Tuesday next week. 

Although Dante is still too far away to have any direct impact on any area in the Philippines, Figuracion said it is expected to bring moderate to heavy rain in parts of the country as it enhances the flow of the southwest monsoon and the intertropical convergence zone in Mindanao. 

Rainy weekend 

Those in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, Mimaropa and Visayas will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rain and thunderstorms. In its 24-hour weather forecast, PAGASA warned the rain may trigger flashfloods and landslides. 

Light to moderate rainshowers can be expected in the Bicol Region and the rest of Mindanao.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening. – Rappler.com

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