TCWS No. 1 raised over 3 provinces in Caraga

BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte (MindaNews / 16 January) – Three provinces in Mindanao are among the areas in the country where Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 has been raised by state weather bureau Pagasa in its advisory at 5 a.m. Friday on Tropical Storm Ada (Nokaen).

The provinces – Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur – are all in Caraga Region, which faces the island’s eastern seaboard.

Most of the areas covered by the TCWS are in Eastern Visayas and Bicol Region.

As of 5 a.m. Friday, Ada was estimated based on all available data 370 km east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte or 430 km east of Maasin City, Southern Leyte (10.4 °N, 128.8 °E ), Pagasa said.

Ada was packing maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 80 km/h and moving north northwest, it added.

Pagasa said the northern and eastern seaboards of Siargao-Bucas Grande, Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Sur will experience waves of up to 3.5 meters high.

Heavy rainfall is expected in the entire Caraga Region, obliging several local government units in the area to order a suspension of classes Friday. Others, like General Luna town in Siargao Island, have suspended classes since Thursday.

Pagasa said Ada will possibly make landfall either in Eastern Visayas or Bicol Region, and may weaken into a tropical depression by Tuesday. (MindaNews)