Tropical Depression Verbena Crosses Mindanao, Prompting Alerts Across Philippines

Tropical Depression Verbena made its initial landfall on Monday, November 24, 2025, first impacting the province of Surigao del Sur before continuing its trajectory across Agusan del Norte. This weather system brought significant atmospheric disturbances to the southern and central regions of the Philippine archipelago. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) closely monitored the storm's path and intensity as it traversed the islands, issuing necessary public advisories to manage the immediate threat.

As of the late hours of Monday, PAGASA reported that Tropical Depression Verbena maintained maximum sustained winds clocked at 45 kilometers per hour. This wind speed was sufficient to trigger the lowest level of alert, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1, which was hoisted across an extensive geographical area covering 23 distinct localities. These affected areas were distributed across the three major island groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, indicating a broad reach of the weather disturbance and mandating heightened preparedness measures for residents in those zones.

Areas experiencing the immediate brunt of the system, primarily the Visayas island group and specific provinces within Mindanao, were subjected to widespread, heavy rainfall accompanied by gusty wind conditions. This combination of weather elements poses risks of localized flooding and potential landslides in vulnerable terrains, a common concern during the passage of tropical cyclones in the region. Current projections indicated that the storm was set to traverse the entire Visayas region in the subsequent hours, presenting a continuous threat to those island provinces.

The Philippine government's disaster response mechanisms, including the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), were placed on high alert to coordinate relief and preemptive evacuations where necessary. Forecasters indicated a critical juncture for the system as it was anticipated to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and move over the West Philippine Sea. This transition over open water presents a potential environment for intensification, as tropical cyclones often gain strength away from land friction, necessitating continued vigilance from maritime authorities.

The overall impact assessment, including preliminary damage reports from Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Norte, was expected to be compiled over the following 48 hours by regional authorities. Tropical Depression Verbena's track aligns with the typical late-season cyclone patterns observed in the region, which relies on accurate tracking data provided by PAGASA. The 45 kph wind speed places Verbena firmly in the lowest category, yet its extensive rainfall potential remains the primary concern for densely populated areas in the central Philippines as it moves through the Visayas.