‘Kabayan’ makes landfall in Davao Oriental, weakens into tropical depression

MANILA, Philippines (Update 1: 3:07 p.m.) — Cyclone Kabayan, which made landfall in Davao Oriental, has weakened into a tropical depression, the country’s weather bureau said Monday. 

Kabayan, the country’s 11th cyclone this year, made landfall over Manay town at around 9:30 a.m. 

The tropical depression was last spotted in the vicinity of Loreto, Agusan del Sur, with peak winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 55 kph. It was heading west northwest at 20 kph.

PAGASA placed the following areas under Signal No. 1:

Minimal to minor impacts from strong winds are possible within any of these areas. 

According to PAGASA, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro and Davao Oriental are expected to receive an accumulated rainfall of 100 to 200 millimeters today. 

Meanwhile, Central Visayas, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Zamboanga del Norte, Northern Mindanao, Davao City, Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, the southern portions of Samar and Eastern Samar, and the rest of Caraga, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro and Davao del Norte will have an accumulated rainfall ranging between 50 and 100 millimeters. 

The shear line, a weather system formed when cold and warm winds converge, may also bring heavy rain to the eastern portion of southern Luzon. 

The surge of northeast monsoon or amihan will also bring gusty conditions to most of Luzon and Visayas that are not under any wind signal for the next two days. 

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported Monday that around 6,723 people have been displaced due to the effects of Kabayan and the shear line. Around 11,729 people from Northern Mindanao and CARAGA were pre-emptively evacuated. 

According to PAGASA, Kabayan will cross the rugged terrain of Mindanao and emerge over the Sulu Sea between this afternoon and evening. 

The cyclone is forecast to further weaken due to frictional effects associated with landfall. Weather forecasters are not ruling out the possibility of Kabayan being downgraded into a low pressure area while over land or after emerging over the sea. 

“Although in such a case, re-development may still occur over