'Domeng' to make landfall over Surigao Thursday

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical Storm "Domeng" has maintained its strength as it continues to move closer to the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said before Monday noon.

PAGASA said at 10 a.m. today, the center of the tropical storm was located at 770 kilometers east of Davao City packing maximum winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 80 kilometers per hour.

Domeng is also forecast to move west northwest at 15 kilometers per hour and moderate to heavy rainfall (5 to 15 millimeters per hour) within the 400-kilometer diameter of the tropical storm.

The weather bureau said Domeng is expected to make landfall over the Surigao provinces on Thursday morning and then cross northeastern Mindanao and southern part of Cebu and Negros Provinces. It will be over the Sulu Sea by Friday.

PAGASA said rains and gusty winds is expected over the eastern section of Mindanao this afternoon and tomorrow for eastern Visayas.

Aside from the Surigao provinces, PAGASA weather forecaster Rene Paciente said Domeng may directly affect Southern Cebu, Bohol, Negros, and Coron in northern Palawan.

Paciente said Eastern Mindanao and Visayas may experience rains starting on Monday afternoon or evening and Tuesday, respectively.

According to PAGASA's forecast, Domeng is expected to weaken after making landfall, but rains will continue over the Visayas and Mindanao, which may trigger flashfloods and landslides, particularly in the provinces of Siquijor, Compostella Valley, Leyte, Bohol and Cebu.

Domeng is expected to be at 480 kilometers east of Davao City by tomorrow morning and 250 kilometers east northeast of Davao City by Wednesday morning.