By Brian Campued
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 remains hoisted over 13 provinces in Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, and Caraga as tropical cyclone Ada (international name: Nokaen) further intensified into a tropical storm on Thursday afternoon.
In its 5:00 p.m. update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Tropical Storm Ada was last monitored 400 km east of Surigao City in Surigao del Norte.
The storm packs maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gustiness of up to 80 kph while moving northwestward at 15 kph.
PAGASA weather specialist John Manalo said Ada will continuously move northwestward and then pass close to Eastern Samar and Northern Samar on Saturday, Jan. 17, and Catanduanes on Sunday, Jan. 18.
“Pero by Friday (Jan. 16) ay magkakaroon na rin po ito ng epekto sa Eastern Visayas,” Manalo said.
“By Monday, magbabago naman ng direksiyon ang kaniyang paggalaw—from northwestward ay magiging northeastward, papalayo na ng ating kalupaan,” he added.
Residents in areas under Wind Signal No. 1 are advised to prepare for possible strong winds that may pose minimal to minor threat within the next 36 hours:
- Eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Presentacion, and Garchitorena)
- Sorsogon
- Eastern portion of Albay (Rapu-Rapu, Manito, Legazpi City, Bacacay, Santo Domingo, City of Tabaco, Malilipot, Malinao, and Tiwi)
- Catanduanes
- Northern Samar
- Samar
- Eastern Samar
- Eastern portion of Biliran (Maripipi, Kawayan, Culaba, Caibiran, and Cabucgayan)
- Eastern portion of Leyte (Carigara, Barugo, San Miguel, Babatngon, Tacloban City, Tunga, Jaro, Alangalang, Santa Fe, Palo, Dagami, Pastrana, Tanauan, Tabontabon, Julita, Dulag, Tolosa, La Paz, Mayorga, Macarthur, Javier, Abuyog, and Mahaplag)
- Eastern portion of Southern Leyte (Silago, Sogod, Libagon, Saint Bernard, Hinunangan, Hinundayan, Anahawan, San Juan, Liloan, San Ricardo, San Francisco, and Pintuyan)
- Dinagat Islands
- Surigao del Norte
- Surigao del Sur
Ada is also forecast to bring moderate to heavy rains over Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and Agusan del Norte until Friday afternoon.
Starting Friday afternoon until Saturday afternoon, heavy to intense rains will be experienced in Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar; and moderate to heavy rains over Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, and Southern Leyte.
Over the weekend, Ada will drench Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, and Camarines Norte.
While a gale warning has yet to be raised, Manalo urged mariners to avoid sea travel over the eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao.
“Posible pa rin po na umabot ng hanggang 4 meters ang taas ng alon na puwede nating ma-encounter kapag pumalaot tayo, ‘pag nangisda tayo,” the PAGASA weather specialist said.
-av
