Tropical Depression Kabayan poised for landfall over Mindanao — PAGASA

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression Kabayan, the country's 11th cyclone this year, may make landfall over Mindanao Sunday evening or early Monday, according to the state weather agency.

Kabayan was last spotted 440 kilometers east of Davao City in Davao del Sur, with maximum peak winds of 55 km per hour near the center and gusts of up to 70 kph.

PAGASA said Kabayan is likely to maintain its strength until its initial landfall over Mindanao. But the weather bureau is not ruling out the possibility of the cyclone reaching tropical storm category before landfall.

Moving north northwest slowly, Kabayan is likely to make landfall along the coast of Surigao del Sur or Davao Oriental tonight or early Monday.

PAGASA placed the following areas in Visayas and Mindanao under Wind Signal No. 1:

The weather agency warned that "minimal to minor impacts from strong winds" are possible in any of the areas under Wind Signal No. 1.

The surge of northeast monsoon or amihan will also bring gusty conditions for the next two days to the following areas not under any wind signal, especially in coastal and upland areas:

Parts of Visayas and Mindanao will also experience heavy rainfall due to Kabayan.

Sunday

Monday

Rainfall is expected to be higher in mountainous areas. This may result in flooding and landslides, particularly in areas highly susceptible to these hazards and those that have experienced significant rainfall in recent days.

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

After making landfall in Mindanao, Kabayan is projected to cross the region's rugged terrain and emerge over Bohol Sea or Sulu Sea Monday morning or afternoon.

"Due to frictional effects associated with landfall, Kabayan is forecast to weaken over land and the possibility of being downgraded into a low pressure area while over land or after emerging over the sea is not ruled out (although in such a case, re-development may still occur over the Sulu Sea)," PAGASA said.

Kabayan will move across the Sulu Sea south of Cuyo Islands for the remainder of Monday and