Low pressure area develops into tropical depression, to become 'Basyang'

February 3, 2026 | 6:30pm

MANILA, Philippines — A low pressure area east of northeastern Mindanao developed into a tropical depression Tuesday afternoon, February 3, and is expected to strengthen into Tropical Storm Basyang by Thursday.

State weather bureau PAGASA said the tropical depression was 1,075 kilometers east of northeastern Mindanao as of 4 p.m., packing winds of 55 kilometers per hour and moving northwest at 10 km per hour or slower. It's yet to enter the Philippine area of responsibility.

At a 5 p.m. briefing, PAGASA Weather Specialist John Manalo said the tropical depression will maintain its current strength until Wednesday (February 4), then intensify into a tropical storm by Thursday early morning (February 5), when it is also forecast to make landfall. 

The system will have the name of Basyang once it enters the Philippine area of responsibility tonight or early Tuesday morning, according to the state weather bureau. 

The center of Basyang may make landfall in Caraga by Thursday afternoon or evening, and then it is expected to cross Visayas and Palawan from Friday (February 6) to Sunday (February 8).

"Based on the intensity forecast, the highest wind signal that will be hoisted is Wind Signal No. 2," PAGASA said in its 5 p.m. bulletin.

Heavy rains expected in Visayas, Mindanao

PAGASA has also forecasted heavy rains in parts of the country due to the northeast monsoon or amihan.

Rains of 50 to 100 millimeters are forecast for Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte and Davao Oriental from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday afternoon.

The same amount of rainfall is expected over a wider area from Thursday afternoon to Friday afternoon, including Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Siquijor, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte, PAGASA said.

The weather bureau warned that rainfall could be higher in mountainous areas and that flooding may worsen in places that recently had heavy rains.

Basyang will be the second tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines this year.

Latest

Recommended