By Brian Campued
Several areas across the country are now under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 as Tropical Depression Kristine maintained its strength on Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
In its tropical cyclone bulletin issued at 11:00 a.m., PAGASA said Kristine was located 870 kilometers (km) east of Eastern Visayas, moving west-southwestward at 30 kilometers per hour (kph).
The tropical depression packs maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near its center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.
The state weather bureau warns of strong winds that may cause minimal to minor impacts in the following areas under TCWS No. 1:
Luzon:
- Catanduanes
- Masbate including Ticao Island and Burias Island
- Camarines Sur
- Albay
- Sorsogon
- Camarines Norte
- Eastern portion of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Buenavista, San Narciso, and San Andres)
Visayas
- Eastern Samar
- Northern Samar
- Samar
- Leyte
- Biliran
- Southern Leyte
Mindanao
- Dinagat Islands
- Surigao del Norte including Siargao – Bucas Grande Group
In its track forecast, PAGASA said Kristine is forecast to intensify into a tropical storm in the next 12 hours and may also reach severe tropical storm category by Wednesday (Oct. 23) and typhoon category by Thursday evening (Oct. 24) or Friday morning (Oct. 25).
“Since this tropical cyclone is still over the Philippine Sea, further intensification is likely, given the favorable environmental conditions (high SST and low wind shear) for development over the area,” the state weather bureau said.
Kristine could also make landfall over Northern Luzon or the northeastern portion of Cagayan on Friday, it added.
Meanwhile, heavy to intense rainfall are expected in Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Northern Samar from Monday to Tuesday noon (Oct. 22). Quezon and the rest of Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas will experience moderate to heavy rainfall during the same forecast period. —avds