PAGASA says 'Dante' moves towards Batangas, no longer mentions possible Bataan landfall

MANILA (UPDATED)— Tropical Storm Dante (international name: Choi-wan) on Wednesday night moved towards the southwestern coast of Batangas, the weather bureau said in its latest bulletin, which also did not mention anymore about a possible landfall over Bataan as earlier projected.

In its 8 p.m. update, PAGASA warned that the storm could pass "near or in the vicinity" of the southwest areas in Batangas on Wednesday evening, as well as over the portions of Bataan and Zambales on Thursday morning.

Dante, the Philippines' fourth storm this year, made its 6th landfall over Pola, Oriental Mindoro at 2 p.m.

It sped up on Wednesday evening, moving west northwestward at 20 kph.

"It will then emerge over the West Philippine Sea [Thursday] morning," the latest bulletin read.

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Dante was last spotted over the coastal waters of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro as of 7 p.m., and was packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, with gusts of up to 90 kph.

Dante has so far left 3 people dead, and nearly P15 million worth of damage in agriculture after lashing Mindanao and parts of Visayas, relevant agencies said.

• Dante leaves 3 dead, nearly P15 million worth of damage in agriculture

Tropical cyclone wind Signal No. 2 was hoisted over the following areas:

LUZON

• the northern portion Oriental Mindoro (Naujan, Baco, San Teodoro, Puerto Galera, City of Calapan, Victoria)
• the northern portion Occidental Mindoro (Paluan, Abra de Ilog, Mamburao, Santa Cruz)
• Lubang Islands
• Batangas
• Cavite
• Bataan
• the southwestern portion of Bulacan (Calumpit, Bulacan, City of Malolos, Paombong, Hagonoy)
• the western portion of Pampanga (Masantol, Macabebe, Sasmuan, Lubao, Floridablanca, Porac, Guagua, Santa Rita, Angeles City, Mabalacat City, Minalin, Bacolor)
• Zambales
• the western portion of Tarlac (Bamban, Capas, San Jose, Mayantoc, Camiling, Santa Ignacia, San Clemente)
• the western portion of Pangasinan (Bolinao, Anda, Bani, Agno, Burgos, Infanta, Dasol, City of Alaminos, Mabini, Sual, Labrador, Bugallon, Aguilar, Mangatarem, Bayambang, Urbiztondo, Basista, Malasiqui, San Carlos City, Santa Barbara, Mangaldan, Dagupan City, Calasiao, Binmaley, Lingayen)

The following areas were placed under tropical cyclone wind Signal No. 1:

LUZON

• Metro Manila
• Marinduque
• the northern portion of Romblon (Banton, Concepcion)
• the rest of Oriental Mindoro
• the rest of Occidental Mindoro
• the western portion of Quezon (Sampaloc, Lucban, City of Tayabas, Dolores, Tiaong, San Antonio, Candelaria, Sariaya, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Atimonan, Unisan, Plaridel)
• Laguna
• Rizal
• the rest of Bulacan
• the rest of Pampanga
• the rest of Tarlac
• the western portion of Nueva Ecija (Science City of Muñoz, Lupao, Cuyapo, Talugtug, Guimba, Nampicuan, Quezon, Licab, Santo Domingo, Talavera, Cabanatuan City, Santa Rosa, Aliaga, Zaragoza, Jaen, San Antonio, Cabiao, San Isidro, San Leonardo, City of Gapan, Peñaranda)
• the rest of Pangasinan
• the southern portion of Benguet (Itogon, Tuba, Sablan, Baguio City, La Trinidad, Kapangan, Tublay)
• La Union

Moderate with at times intense rains may be experienced in the areas of Cavite, Batangas, Romblon, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Bataan, Zambales, and Pangasinan from Wednesday night until Thursday afternoon.

The rest of Central Luzon, Calabarzon, the northern portion of Palawan including Calamian, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo Islands, and the northwestern portion of Aklan and Antique, meanwhile, can experience moderate to heavy rains during the same period.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains may be experienced over the areas of Metro Manila, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province, Kalinga, Abra, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and the rest of Mimaropa, according to PAGASA.

"Under these conditions and considering antecedent rainfall, scattered to widespread flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides are expected, especially in areas with high or very high susceptibility to these hazards as identified in hazard maps" PAGASA said.

The weather agency forecast Dante to weaken into a tropical depression Wednesday night or Thursday morning "due to land interaction with the rugged terrain of mainland Luzon."

It can further weaken into a low pressure area by Saturday, according to the agency.

Visit the ABS-CBN Weather Center for more updates

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