Tropical Depression Agung moves toward Leyte Gulf

The Philippine Atmospheric and Atmospheric Administration said Tropical Depression Agung could make landfall in Eastern Samar in the early hours of Saturday, May 25, but “landfall near Leyte and/or Dinagat Island is also increasingly likely.”

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression Aghon is moving toward Leyte Gulf in Eastern Visayas on Friday night, May 24, hours ahead of its landfall.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in a bulletin at 11 p.m. Friday that Ahom has reached the coastal waters of San Isidro, Surigao del Norte, moving northwest at 20 kilometers per hour (km/h).

Maximum sustained winds remain at 55 km/h, with gusts up to 70 km/h.

Hurricane Agung could make landfall in Eastern Samar within 12 hours, possibly in the early morning hours of Saturday, May 25.

But the Philippine Atmospheric and Spatial Information Administration said that as the tropical depression’s path has been moving westward, “there is an increasing probability of a hurricane making landfall near Leyte and/or Dinagat Island” during the same period.

It is currently predicted that Argen will make landfall as a tropical depression rather than a tropical storm, but it may subsequently strengthen.

Hurricane Agung is bringing heavy rains, floods and landslides that could hit areas in its path. Here is PAGASA’s rainfall forecast as of 11 p.m. Friday:

Friday evening, May 24 to Saturday evening, May 25

• 100-200 mm: Albay, Sorsogon, Eastern Visayas, Surigao, Dinagat Islands
• 50-100 mm: Southeastern Quezon, other parts of Bicol, northern Western Visayas, northern Cebu

Saturday evening, May 25 to Sunday evening, May 26

• 100-200 mm: Bicol
• 50-100 mm: Polillo Islands, southern Quezon Island, Northern Samar

Meanwhile, the following areas facing Agung’s strong winds remain under Signal No. 1:

• Southeastern Quezon (Calauag, Guinayangan, Lopez, Buenavista, Catanauan, Mulanay, San Narciso, San Francisco, San Andres, Tagkawayan)
• Camarines Norte
• Southern Gansu Province
• Catandunes
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Masbate includes the islands of Ticao and Burias
• Northern Samar
• Sama
• Eastern Samar
• Biliran
• Leyte Island
• Southern Leyte
• The northernmost part of Cebu (San Remigio, Tabogon, Bogo City, Medellin, Bantayan Island), including Camotes Islands and Bantayan Island
• Northeastern Bohol (President Carlos P. Garcia, British, Trinidad, Anda, Candija, Ubai, Mabini, Alicia, San Miguel, Talibang)
• Dinagat Islands
• Surigao del Norte, including Siargao Island and Bucas Grande Island
• Surigao del Sur
• Agusan del Norte
• Eastern Agusan del Sur (South, Bayuangan City, Prosperity, San Francisco, Rosario, Bunawan, Trento)

Agung will also cause moderate to heavy waves with heights of 1.5 to 3.5 meters along the coasts of Bicol, southern Quezon, eastern coasts of Eastern Visayas, western coasts of Samar and Northern Samar, and eastern coast of Caraga on Saturday.

The weather bureau advises small boats to take precautions or, if possible, avoid sailing altogether.

Also reported on RAPPLER

Hurricane Agung is likely to make landfall on Saturday morning and is then expected to continue moving northwestward, appear over the Samar Sea, and pass through the Bicol Peninsula between Saturday afternoon and early Sunday morning, May 26.

It will then likely appear over the waters of northern Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur on Sunday morning.

The Philippine Atmospheric and Atmospheric Administration said Agung could strengthen into a tropical storm from the time it emerges over the Samar Sea until it passes over Bicol Island.

Agung is likely to start turning toward the northeast on Sunday. It is likely to continue strengthening over the Philippine Sea and eventually intensify into a typhoon on Tuesday, May 28.

The vessel is also likely to leave the Philippine Area of ​​Responsibility (PAR) on Tuesday.

Agung is the country’s first tropical cyclone in 2024. (Read: List: Names of tropical cyclones in the Philippines in 2024）

The Philippine Atmospheric and Atmospheric Administration previously estimated that one or two tropical cyclones could form in or enter the Philippine Gulf in May. – Rappler.com