By Brian Campued
The state weather bureau has issued a heavy rainfall warning for Metro Manila and parts of southern Luzon on Thursday as Severe Tropical Storm Kristine continues to move away from the Philippine landmass.
As of 4:00 p.m., “Kristine” was over the coastal waters of Santa Lucia, Ilocos Sur, moving “westward slowly.”
The tropical cyclone packs maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) near its center and gustiness of up to 145 kph.
Aside from the Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals issued by PAGASA, heavy rainfall warnings are also hoisted in the following areas due to the amount of rainfall brought by Kristine within an hour and is expected to continue for the next two hours:
Red Rainfall Warning
- Batangas
- Cavite
- Laguna
- Occidental Mindoro (Lubang, Looc, Paluan, Abra de Ilog, Mamburao, Santa Cruz, Sablayan)
Under the red rainfall advisory, residents are advised to take emergency measures as torrential rains (more than 30 millimeters) are expected to cause severe flooding and landslides.
Orange Rainfall Warning
- Bataan
- Zambales
- Metro Manila
- Rizal
- Quezon (Lucban, Tayabas, Lucena, Dolores, Tiaong, San Antonio, Sariaya, Candelaria)
- Occidental Mindoro (Calintaan, Rizal, San Jose, Magsaysay)
Under the orange rainfall advisory, intense rains (15–30 mm) will likely result in flooding in low-lying areas as well as landslides. Residents are advised to be alert for possible evacuation.
Yellow Rainfall Warning
- Pangasinan
- Benguet
- La Union
- Nueva Ecija
- Tarlac
- Bulacan
- Pampanga
- Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta, Mauban, Pagbilao, Real, Sampaloc, Agdangan, Alabat, Atimonan, Buenavista, Burdeos, Calauag, Catanauan, General Luna, Guinayangan, Gumaca, Jomalig, Lopez, Macalelon, Mulanay, Padre Burgos, Panukulan, Patnanungan, Perez, Pitogo, Plaridel, Polillo, Quezon, San Andres, San Francisco, San Narciso, Tagkawayan, Unisan)
- Palawan (Busuanga, Coron, Culion, Linapacan, El Nido, Taytay, San Vicente, Dumaran, Araceli, Roxas, Cuyo, Magsaysay, Agutaya, Puerto Princesa City)
- Antique (Caluya)
Under the yellow rainfall advisory, the public is advised to continuously monitor weather conditions and updates as heavy rains (7.5–15 mm) may cause flooding in areas with low elevation.
Severe Tropical Storm Kristine is forecast to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility Friday afternoon.
—av