By Brian Campued
Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) has exited the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) Friday afternoon as Tropical Depression Kong-rey intensifies into a tropical storm while approaching the PAR region, the state weather bureau said.
In a tropical cyclone bulletin issued at 5:00 p.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said “Kristine” accelerated away from the Philippine landmass and was last located 410 kilometers west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur.
Kristine is moving 30 kilometers per hour (kph) west-northwestward, with winds of 95 kph and gustiness of up to 115 kph.
The tropical cyclone lashed most of Luzon and parts of Visayas and Mindanao, triggering widespread flooding and landslides as well as displacing millions of people across the country.
PAGASA earlier raised the possible looping scenario of Kristine toward the direction of the PAR in the next two to three days, depending on the behavior of “Kong-rey” and other synoptic weather systems surrounding Kristine while over the West Philippine Sea.
Even if Kristine has left the PAR, PAGASA said its rainbands are still affecting a large part of Luzon under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1:
- Ilocos Norte
- Ilocos Sur
- La Union
- Pangasinan
- Apayao
- Kalinga
- Abra
- Mountain Province
- Ifugao
- Benguet
- Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
- Isabela
- Quirino
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Nueva Ecija
- Tarlac
- Zambales
- Bataan
- Pampanga
- Bulacan
- Metro Manila
- Northern portion of Rizal (Cainta, Rodriguez, San Mateo, City of Antipolo, Taytay)
- Northern portion of Cavite (Ternate, Naic, Tanza, Rosario, Bacoor City, Kawit, Noveleta, Cavite City, City of General Trias, Imus City, Maragondon)
Strong to gale-force winds are expected tomorrow (Oct. 26) in Palawan, Romblon, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Siquijor, Bohol, Southern Leyte, Zamboanga del Norte, Camiguin, Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Norte.
PAGASA has also lifted all storm surge warnings but a gale warning is still in effect over the northern and western seaboards of Luzon.
Moderate to heavy rains are still forecast in Palawan, Western Visayas, Negros Occidental, the southern portion of Negros Oriental, and Zamboanga Peninsula until Saturday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the tropical storm outside the PAR was last spotted 2,410 km east of southeastern Luzon, moving northwestward at 35 kph. It packs maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
Once it enters the PAR, “Kong-rey” will be given the local name “Leon”.
—iro