MANILA, Philippines — Signal No. 1 is up over Davao Oriental as Tropical Depression “Querubin” maintains its strength over the waters east of Mindanao, the state weather bureau said on Wednesday.
Weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the center of Querubin’s eye was estimated at 230 kilometers (kms) east of Davao City or 205kms east of Tagum City, Davao del Norte.
Moving north-northeastward at 10 kilometers per hour (kph), the tropical cyclone has maximum sustained winds of 45kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55kph, the state weather agency said.
Forecast to move generally north-northeastward or northward over the waters east of Mindanao within the next 24 hours, Querubin was predicted to also weaken into a remnant low pressure area.
By Thursday through Sunday, the remnant low pressure area of Querubin will traverse Mindanao, Sulu Sea, and Palawan, the Pagasa forecaster said.
“Although a weakening scenario is expected, possible re-development into a tropical depression may occur once the remnant low of Querubin reaches the West Philippine Sea,” Aurelio said.
In the meantime, the combined effects of the tropical depression and shear line — where the hot and cold air converge — will potentially bring heavy or intense rainfall over several areas in Visayas and Mindanao.
Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon or “amihan” will be bringing partly cloudy to overcast skies with isolated light rains over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon all throughout the day, the national weather agency said in its 5 a.m. advisory.
