'Domeng' changes course, heads northwest

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical Depression "Domeng" has changed course to northwest as it continues to move slowly, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said before Tuesday noon.

In its latest update, PAGASA said the center of the tropical depression was located at 10 a.m. today at 550 kilometers east of Davao City.

Domeng is still packed with maximum winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center and is moving northwest at 5 kilometers per hour.

Moderate to heavy rainfall (5 to 15 millimeters per hour) is still estimated within the 400-kilometer diameter of the tropical depression.

PAGASA said Domeng is expected to be at 360 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur by Wednesday morning and at 230 kilometers east of the same area by Thursday morning.

The weather agency initially estimated that Domeng will make landfall over the Surigao provinces on Thursday.

Domeng, the fourth cyclone to enter the country this year, weakened into a tropical depression last night.

PAGASA has still not raised any public storm warning signal in any part of the country.