AS TOPICAL Storm Auring slows down, the Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) 1 in Cebu has been lifted Monday, February 22, 2021.

However, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) still placed the following areas under TCWS 1:

• Northern Samar

• Eastern Samar

• Samar

• Biliran

• Sorsogon

• Masbate

• Ticao and Burias Islands

• Albay

• Catanduanes

• Eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Presentacion, Sagnay, Buhi, Iriga City, Nabua, Bato, Balatan)

Auring made landfall in Batag Island, Laoang, Northern Samar at 9 a.m. on February 22. It is expected to weaken into a low-pressure area in the next few hours.

Despite this, the Visayas region, including Cebu, can still expect light to moderate rainfall some days.

"The disturbance is forecasted to weaken considerably due to significant terrain interaction leading to deterioration into a remnant low within 24 hours or possibly sooner," Pagasa said in an advisory.

This prompted the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to downgrade its alert status from red to blue. (ANV/With NRC)