MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Storm Basyang (Penha) accelerated while moving closer to eastern Mindanao early Thursday morning, February 5.

Basyang was last spotted 385 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, as of 7 am on Thursday. It is moving west southwest at 20 kilometers per hour from the previous 15 km/h.

The tropical storm continues to have maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h and gustiness of up to 80 km/h, according to the 8 am bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Basyang’s latest forecast track shows it could make its first landfall in Surigao del Sur on Thursday evening or early Friday morning, February 6, then cross other parts of Mindanao.

Afterwards, the tropical storm may emerge over the Bohol Sea on Friday morning, then pass close to or make landfall again in Siquijor and Negros Oriental by Friday afternoon.

By Friday evening or early Saturday morning, February 7, Basyang is seen to emerge over the Sulu Sea, then cross the northern portion of Palawan between Saturday afternoon and evening.

Also by Saturday, Basyang could be downgraded to a tropical depression. Further weakening is expected after this, and it may just be a low pressure area by Monday, February 9.

At least 17 provinces, mostly in Mindanao, face significant rainfall from Basyang on Thursday. Areas in the path of the tropical storm must be on alert for floods and landslides.

Thursday, February 5

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 millimeters): Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Southern Leyte, Eastern Samar, Zamboanga del Norte, Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur

Friday, February 6

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Iloilo, Antique, Capiz, Aklan, Guimaras, Southern Leyte, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Camiguin, Siquijor, Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Zamboanga del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental

Saturday, February 7

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Aklan, Antique
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Iloilo, Capiz, Guimaras

Meanwhile, below are the areas under tropical cyclone wind signals as of 8 am on Thursday.

Signal No. 2

Gale-force winds (62 to 88 km/h), minor to moderate threat to life and property

• Surigao del Norte including Siargao-Bucas Grande Islands
• Surigao del Sur
• extreme northern part of Davao Oriental (Boston)
• Agusan del Norte
• Agusan del Sur
• Misamis Oriental
• northern part of Bukidnon (Impasug-ong, Manolo Fortich, Malitbog, Sumilao, Libona, Baungon, Malaybalay City, Cabanglasan)
• northeastern part of Lanao del Norte (Iligan City)
• northeastern part of Misamis Occidental (Baliangao, Plaridel, Lopez Jaena, Oroquieta City, Calamba, Aloran, Panaon)
• Camiguin

Signal No. 1

Strong winds (39 to 61 km/h), minimal to minor threat to life and property

• Cuyo Islands
• southern part of Eastern Samar (Guiuan, Salcedo, Mercedes, Giporlos, Balangiga, Lawaan, Quinapondan, General MacArthur, Hernani, Llorente, Balangkayan)
• southern part of Samar (Marabut, Basey, Santa Rita)
• Biliran
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Bohol
• Cebu
• Siquijor
• Negros Oriental
• Negros Occidental
• Guimaras
• Iloilo
• Capiz
• Aklan
• Antique
• Dinagat Islands
• northern and central parts of Davao Oriental (Cateel, Baganga, Caraga, Manay, Tarragona, Lupon, Banaybanay)
• Davao de Oro
• Davao del Norte
• northern part of Davao del Sur (Davao City)
• rest of Bukidnon
• northern part of Cotabato (Carmen, Banisilan, Alamada, President Roxas, Antipas, Arakan, Magpet, Matalam, Kabacan)
• Lanao del Sur
• northern part of Maguindanao del Norte (Buldon, Barira, Matanog)
• rest of Lanao del Norte
• rest of Misamis Occidental
• eastern and central parts of Zamboanga del Norte (Mutia, Piñan, Polanco, Dipolog City, Dapitan City, Sibutad, Rizal, La Libertad, Labason, Kalawit, Liloy, Salug, Bacungan, Sindangan, Jose Dalman, Manukan, President Manuel A. Roxas, Katipunan, Sergio Osmeña Sr., Siayan, Godod, Tampilisan, Gutalac)
• northern and central parts of Zamboanga del Sur (Bayog, Kumalarang, Lapuyan, San Miguel, Guipos, Dinas, San Pablo, Dumalinao, Pagadian City, Tigbao, Lakewood, Dumingag, Mahayag, Molave, Josefina, Tambulig, Aurora, Ramon Magsaysay, Sominot, Midsalip, Labangan, Tukuran)
• northern part of Zamboanga Sibugay (Kabasalan, Diplahan, Naga, Titay, Ipil, Buug)

PAGASA added that the surge of the northeast monsoon or amihan is bringing strong to gale-force gusts to the following areas:

Thursday, February 5

• Batanes, Babuyan Islands, northern part of mainland Cagayan, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Bicol, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Cuyo and Cagayancillo Islands, Visayas, most of Mindanao

Friday, February 6

• Batanes, Babuyan Islands, northern part of mainland Cagayan, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Pampanga, Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Bicol, Mimaropa, Visayas, most of Mindanao

Saturday, February 7

• Aurora, Quezon, Bataan, Calabarzon, Metro Manila, Mimaropa, Western Visayas

In addition, there is a minimal to moderate risk of storm surges with peak heights of up to 2 meters in Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Davao Oriental, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Antique, and Cagayancillo Islands within 48 hours. Check the specific cities and municipalities here.

Dangerous sea conditions also persist on Thursday.

Up to very rough seas (travel is risky for all vessels)

• Seaboard of Surigao del Sur – waves up to 5.5 meters high
• Eastern seaboards of Siargao-Bucas Grande Islands – waves up to 5 meters high
• Eastern seaboards of Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Dinagat Islands, and northern Davao Oriental – waves up to 4.5 meters high

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

• Northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes; eastern seaboards of Albay and Sorsogon; northern seaboard of Northern Samar; remaining seaboards of Eastern Samar and Davao Oriental – waves up to 4 meters high
• Northern seaboards of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur; eastern seaboard of southern Davao del Sur – waves up to 3.5 meters high
• Seaboards of Isabela and Aurora; eastern seaboard of mainland Cagayan; seaboard of northern Quezon; northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands; seaboards of Camiguin; seaboards of Misamis Oriental and Agusan del Norte – waves up to 3 meters high

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

• Seaboards of Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and Ilocos Norte; seaboard of Palawan; southern seaboard of Bohol – waves up to 2.5 meters high
• Seaboards of Antique, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Southern Leyte, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Sarangani; western seaboards of Occidental Mindoro, Romblon, and Aklan; eastern seaboard of Oriental Mindoro; southern seaboards of Iloilo, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental; remaining seaboards of Quezon, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Bohol, Dinagat Islands, and Caraga – 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