Agaton speeds up; 6 provinces signal #1

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Six provinces in Mindanao are under public storm warning signal number 1 as Tropical Depression Agaton (international codename Lingling) slightly accelerates toward the southern tip of the island.

Agaton is now moving towards the southwest after gaining some speed, state weather bureau PAGASA said in its latest bulletin Sunday, January 19.

As of 10 am Sunday, Agaton was located 205 km Southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur or at 230 km East of Davao City, with maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h near the center.

The following areas are currently under signal number 1:

• Surigao del Sur
• Agusan del Sur
• Davao Oriental 
• Compostela Valley
• Davao del Norte
• Davao del Sur

Storm warning signals over Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Island, and Agusan del Norte have now been lowered.

The system is expected to bring moderate to heavy rainfall (5-15 mm/h) within its 300 km diameter, and will also bring moderate to occasionally heavy rain and thunderstorms over the Visayas, the bureau said.

Moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms are also expected in Bohol, Siquijor, Northern Mindanao and the rest of Caraga Region due to the weather system.

It is expected to take a path that will curve towards the southern tip of Mindanao in a south-southwest direction, and could possibly make landfall over Davao Oriental Monday or Tuesday (January 20 or 21).

The system is now moving at a speed of 7 km/h, the bureau said.

It is expected to be 120 km southeast of Davao City by Monday morning; 60 km south of General Santos City by Tuesday morning; and 220 km southwest of General Santos City by Wednesday morning, January 22, or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

The system will weaken once it reaches land, but will continue bringing heavy rain over the area.

In addition, sea travel is risky in the waters off Luzon, Visayas and Caraga Region, the bureau added.

Sunday weather

Meanwhile, Visayas, the rest of the Davao region, and Northern Mindanao will have cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rain, possibly triggering flash floods and landslides, the bureau said in its 24-hour forecast Sunday morning.

Bicol is expected to have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain, while the remaining parts of Mindanao as well as Palawan will have partly cloudy skies with isolated rain.

The rest of Luzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with light rains.

The northeast monsoon will also continue affecting Luzon, the bureau said.

PAGASA is scheduled to issue the next bulletin on Agaton at 5 pm Sunday. – KD Suarez/Rappler.com

Help report critical information such as flooding, road or building damage, or those who need rescue or assistance using the Project Agos disaster information map. Rappler’s MovePH team will monitor the map and alert the relevant local authorities.