A low pressure area east of northeastern Mindanao developed into a tropical depression on Tuesday afternoon, February 3, and is expected to become Tropical Storm Basyang by Thursday.
According to PAGASA, the tropical depression was 1,075 kilometers east of northeastern Mindanao at around 4 p.m., packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour and moving southwest at 10 km/h or slower. It has not yet entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
During the 5 p.m. briefing, PAGASA Weather Specialist John Manalo said the storm will remain at its current strength until Wednesday, February 4, and will intensify into a tropical storm by the early hours of Thursday, February 5, when it is expected to make landfall. Once it enters the PAR, it will be given the name Basyang.
The center of Basyang is expected to hit Caraga on Thursday afternoon or evening, and will then pass through Visayas and Palawan from Friday, February 6, to Sunday, February 8. “Based on the intensity forecast, the highest Wind Signal to be raised is Signal No. 2,” PAGASA added.
Heavy rains are expected in Visayas and Mindanao due to the northeast monsoon or amihan. Rainfall of 50–100 mm is expected in the provinces of Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Sur, Agusan del Norte and Sur, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, and Davao Oriental from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday afternoon. A wider area, including Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Negros, Siquijor, Lanao del Norte and Sur, and Zamboanga del Norte, will experience similar amounts of rain from Thursday afternoon to Friday afternoon. PAGASA warned that rains will be heavier in the mountains and flooding may worsen in areas that have recently experienced heavy rains.
Basyang will be the second tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines this year.
