Tropical Depression Basyang slows down en route to Cebu

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Depression Basyang (Penha) was already over the coastal waters of Dalaguete, Cebu, as of 7 pm on Friday, February 6.

Basyang may still make landfall two more times — in Cebu and Negros Oriental — between Friday evening and early Saturday morning, February 7.

The tropical depression has slowed down, however, moving west northwest at just 10 kilometers per hour (km/h).

Basyang’s first landfall was in Bayabas, Surigao del Sur, at 11:50 pm on Thursday, February 5, as a tropical storm. A second landfall followed in Jagna, Bohol, at 11 am on Friday, as a tropical depression.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 8 pm bulletin on Friday that Basyang continues to have maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h and gustiness of up to 75 km/h. But it is expected to weaken into a low pressure area within 12 hours.

Nearly a dozen provinces, mainly in the Visayas, are still seeing moderate to intense rain due to Basyang. In Mindanao, where Basyang first hit land, weather conditions are gradually improving on Friday evening after the tropical cyclone triggered floods.

Friday afternoon, February 6, to Saturday afternoon, February 7

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 millimeters): Negros Occidental, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Palawan, Negros Oriental, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Aklan, Capiz

Saturday afternoon, February 7, to Sunday afternoon, February 8

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Palawan

PAGASA has also warned of looming rain from the shear line in several provinces in Luzon during the weekend.

Saturday afternoon, February 7, to Sunday afternoon, February 8

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Camarines Norte

Sunday afternoon, February 8, to Monday afternoon, February 9

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes

Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 was lifted for some areas in Mindanao as of 8 pm on Friday, since strong winds from Basyang are no longer reaching them. Here is the weather bureau’s updated list of areas remaining under Signal No. 1:

• southern part of Occidental Mindoro (San Jose, Magsaysay, Rizal, Calintaan, Sablayan)
• southern part of Oriental Mindoro (Mansalay, Bulalacao, Gloria, Pinamalayan, Bansud, Bongabong, Roxas)
• Romblon
• northern part of Palawan (Taytay, El Nido, Dumaran, Araceli, Roxas) including Cuyo Islands, Cagayancillo Islands, and Calamian Islands
• southern part of Masbate (Balud, Mandaon, Milagros, Esperanza, Placer, Cawayan)
• southern part of Eastern Samar (Guiuan, Salcedo, Mercedes, Giporlos, Balangiga, Lawaan, Quinapondan, General MacArthur, Hernani, Llorente, Balangkayan, Borongan City, Maydolong)
• southern part of Samar (Marabut, Basey, Santa Rita, Daram, Talalora, Zumarraga, Villareal, Pinabacdao, Calbiga)
• Guimaras
• Iloilo
• Capiz
• Antique including Caluya Islands
• Aklan
• Biliran
• Bohol
• Cebu
• Negros Occidental
• Negros Oriental
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Siquijor
• Dinagat Islands
• western part of Surigao del Norte (Mainit, Bacuag, Tagana-an, Tubod, Malimono, Placer, Alegria, San Francisco, Sison, Surigao City)
• Agusan del Norte
• northern part of Misamis Oriental (Laguindingan, Binuangan, Initao, Kinoguitan, Medina, Sugbongcogon, Talisayan, Balingoan, Gitagum, Lagonglong, Libertad, Salay, Magsaysay)
• northern part of Misamis Occidental (Plaridel, Baliangao, Calamba, Lopez Jaena, Sapang Dalaga, Aloran, Oroquieta City)
• Camiguin
• northern part of Zamboanga del Norte (Rizal, Sibutad, La Libertad, Dapitan City, Mutia, Piñan, Dipolog City, Polanco)

The surge of the northeast monsoon or amihan is also bringing strong to gale-force gusts to the following areas:

Friday, February 6

• Batanes, Babuyan Islands, northern part of mainland Cagayan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Bicol, most of Mimaropa, Visayas, Dinagat Islands, Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands, Sarangani, Basilan, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental

Saturday, February 7

• most of Luzon, Western Visayas, most of Negros Island Region, Zamboanga del Norte

Sunday, February 8

• most of Luzon, Western Visayas

Sea conditions are gradually improving as well, although certain seaboards remain risky for small vessels.

Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea)

• Seaboard of Northern Samar; eastern seaboards of Albay, Sorsogon, and Eastern Samar; northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes – waves up to 3.5 meters high
• Seaboards of Dinagat Islands and Siargao and Bucas-Grande Islands; northern seaboards of Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Surigao del Sur; eastern seaboard of Catanduanes – waves up to 3 meters high

Up to moderate seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible)

• Seaboards of Isabela and Aurora; northern seaboard of Polillo Island; eastern seaboard of Davao Oriental; remaining seaboard of Surigao del Sur; southern seaboards of Antique, Negros Occidental, and Davao del Sur – waves up to 2.5 meters high
• Seaboards of Romblon, Aklan, Capiz, Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Palawan, and Kalayaan Islands; northern and western seaboards of Zamboanga del Norte; western seaboard of Zamboanga del Sur; northern seaboards of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, and Misamis Oriental; southern seaboards of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Guimaras, Camiguin, and Oriental Mindoro; western seaboard of Masbate; eastern seaboard of Cagayan; remaining seaboard of Isabela – waves up to 2 meters high

Basyang is the Philippines’ second tropical cyclone for 2026, after Tropical Storm Ada (Nokaen) in January. PAGASA previously estimated there would be up to one tropical cyclone in February. – Rappler.com