LPA now ‘Auring; No. 1 up in 9 areas

MANILA, Philippines — The low pressure area being monitored over Northern Mindanao has intensified into a tropical depression now named “Auring”, the state weather bureau said Thursday.

Signal No. 1 was raised in Palawan, Southern part of Negros provinces, Siquijor Island, Lanao Del Norte, Lanao Del Sur, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

Auring was last seen 50 kilometers west of Dipolog City and packed maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour.

Moving at 28 kph, Auring was forecast to be at 180 km southwest of Puerto Princesa City Friday morning and at 460 km West of Puerto Princesa City by Friday evening or outside the Philippine territory.

Pagasa warned residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under Signal No. 1 against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Auring, the first cyclone to hit the country this year, will bring moderate to heavy rains (5 – 15 mm per hour) within its 250-km diameter.

Fishing boats and other small seacraft were also advised not to venture out into the eastern seaboards of the country and over the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon due to the northeast monsoon and over the western seaboard of Visayas and Mindanao due Auring.