Tropical Storm Basyang (international name Sanba) slowed slightly to 25 kilometers per hour but continued to move west-northwest towards northeastern Mindanao, weather service PAGASA reported in a Monday morning bulletin.

At 4 a.m., Basyang was 690 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, with sustained winds of 65 kph and gusts of up to 80 kph.

The tropical storm would bring scattered to widespread moderate to heavy rain, which could trigger flooding and landslides, over the eastern sections of the Visayas and Mindanao.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal 1 was thus raised over:

• Southern Leyte,
• Bohol,
• the Dinagat Islands,
• Surigao del Norte,
• Surigao del Sur,
• Agusan del Norte,
• Agusan del Sur,
• Camiguin,
• Compostela Valley,
• Davao Oriental,
• Davao del Norte,
• Misamis Oriental,
• Lanao del Sur, and
• Bukidnon.

The Bicol Region, and the rest of the Visayas and Mindanao would also be under the influence of Basyang’s trough, and could thus expect cloudy conditions with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms.

Given TS Basyang’s speed and direction, the weather system was predicted to make landfall over the Caraga Region by Tuesday morning, after which it would be:

• 60 kms west-southwest of Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental by Wednesday morning,
• 65 kms west-northwest of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan by Thursday morning, and
• 95 kms northeast of Pagasa Island, Palawan, and outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, by Friday morning.

Aside form TS Basyang, the northeast monsoon would also be affecting the country on Monday, bringing cloudy conditions and scattered rain over the Cagayan Valley Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Aurora and Quezon; as well as partly cloudy to cloudy conditions with isolated rain over the Ilocos Region.

The rest of Luzon would be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers. — DVM, GMA News