TROPICAL Depression “Lannie” was spotted around 11 a.m. Monday, October 4, heading toward Camotes Sea after it made landfalls in Liloan and Padre Burgos towns in Southern Leyte Monday morning.
Lannie made landfall in Liloan around 7:30 a.m. and Padre Burgos around 8 a.m.
As of 10 a.m. Monday, the center of the tropical depression was located over the coastal waters of Maasin City in Southern Leyte, with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center, gusts of up to 55 km/h, and central pressure of 1006 hPa. It was moving west northwestward or toward Camotes Sea at 20 km/h.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 1 in the following areas:
* LUZON:
The southern portion of Masbate (Pio V. Corpuz, Cataingan, Palanas, Dimasalang, Uson, Mobo, Milagros, Mandaon, Esperanza, Placer, Cawayan, Balud), the southern portion of Romblon (Cajidiocan, San Fernando, Magdiwang, Santa Maria, Odiongan, Alcantara, Ferrol, Looc, Santa Fe, San Jose), the southern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Roxas, Mansalay, Bulalacao, Bongabong), the southern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Sablayan, Calintaan, Rizal, San Jose, Magsaysay), and the northern portion of Palawan (El Nido, Taytay, Dumaran, Araceli) including Calamian and Cuyo Islands.
* VISAYAS:
Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Capiz, Aklan, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, the northern and central portions of Negros Oriental (Bais City, Mabinay, City of Bayawan, Basay, City of Tanjay, Manjuyod, Bindoy, Ayungon, Tayasan, Jimalalud, La Libertad, City of Guihulngan, Vallehermoso, Canlaon City), Cebu, and Bohol
* MINDANAO:
Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, the northern portion of Agusan del Norte (Magallanes, Remedios T. Romualdez, City of Cabadbaran, Tubay, Santiago, Jabonga, Kitcharao, Butuan City), and Camiguin
Pagasa said strong winds or higher may extend outwards up to 200 kilometers from the center of Lannie.
It added that based on the forecast track, Lannie will move generally west northwestward over the Visayas archipelago until Monday night or early morning Tuesday, October 5, when it is expected to emerge over the Sulu Sea and cross the Cuyo archipelago.
“Afterwards, the depression may make another landfall in the vicinity of northern Palawan or Calamian Islands tomorrow morning before emerging over the West Philippine Sea a couple of hours later,” it said.
Throughout this entire period, Lannie was forecast to remain within tropical depression category, with a possibility of slight intensification once over the Sulu Sea or West Philippine Sea, added Pagasa.
The weather bureau warned the public that moderate to heavy with at times intense rains are likely to occur over Visayas, Mimaropa, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, including Ticao and Burias Islands, and Dinagat Islands Monday until Tuesday morning, October 5.
“Light to moderate with at times heavy rains are also possible over Calabarzon and the rest of Bicol Region and Mindanao,” it said.
It added that strong winds (i.e., strong breeze to near gale conditions) with occasional gusts will be experienced within any of the areas placed under TCWS 1.
“This may generally cause up to very light damage to structures and vegetation,” Pagasa said.
“The enhanced easterly flow north of the tropical depression may also bring occasionally gusts reaching strong breeze to near gale in strength over Extreme Northern Luzon and the coastal and upland/mountainous areas of the eastern section of Luzon in the next 24 hours,” it said.
In the next 24 hours, Lannie was forecast to bring moderate to rough seas over the coastal waters of the country, especially in areas where TCWS 1 is in effect.
“These conditions are risky for those using small seacrafts. Mariners are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions,” the weather bulletin stated.
Pagasa also said that by late Tuesday through early Thursday morning, October 7, Lannie was forecast to move generally northwestward over the West Philippine Sea and it will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility Thursday morning. (LMY)