By Brian Campued
Tropical Depression Kristine may intensify into a tropical storm over the Philippine Sea by early Tuesday morning, according to PAGASA.
In its tropical cyclone bulletin issued at 5:00 p.m., PAGASA said “Kristine” was located 760 kilometers (km) east of Catarman, Northern Samar, moving westward at 15 kilometers per hour (kph).
The tropical depression packs maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near its center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.
“Although medyo malayo itong si Kristine, ay malawak ang kaniyang circulation. Although ang direct effect dito sa may eastern part ng Southern Luzon at Eastern Visayas, ‘yung kaniyang trough o extension ay makakaapekto sa malaking bahagi ng ating bansa,” PAGASA weather specialist Veronica Torres said in a public briefing.
Due to this, the state weather bureau warns of strong winds that may cause minimal to minor impacts in the following areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1:
Luzon
- Southeastern portion of Isabela (Palanan and Dinapigue)
- Aurora
- Northern and eastern portions of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Buenavista, San Narciso, San Andres, General Nakar, Pitogo, San Francisco, Calauag, Pagbilao, Infanta, Lopez, Catanauan, Mulanay, Unisan, General Luna, Plaridel, Quezon, Alabat, Sampaloc, Padre Burgos, Macalelon, Mauban, Perez, Agdangan, Gumaca, Atimonan, and Real), including Polillo Islands
- Camarines Norte
- Camarines Sur
- Catanduanes
- Albay
- Sorsogon
- Masbate, including Ticao Island and Burias Island
Visayas
- Eastern Samar
- Northern Samar
- Samar
- Leyte
- Biliran
- Southern Leyte
Mindanao
- Dinagat Islands
- Surigao del Norte, including Siargao – Bucas Grande Group
Strong to gale-force gusts are also expected today in Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, the southern portion of Palawan, Siquijor, Bohol, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Sarangani, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental.
In its track forecast, PAGASA said Kristine will move generally northwestward and continuously intensify in the next few days.
The cyclone may reach severe tropical storm category by Wednesday (Oct. 23) and typhoon category by Thursday (Oct. 24) before making landfall over Northern Luzon between late Thursday and early Friday (Oct. 25).
“Bago ito mag-landfall, posible itong bumagal kaya mararamdaman natin ang malalakas na ulan at malalakas na hangin,” Torres said.
Meanwhile, Kristine will also bring heavy to intense rainfall in Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Northern Samar until Tuesday afternoon.
Romblon, Marinduque, Quezon, the rest of Bicol Region, and the rest of Eastern Visayas will experience moderate to heavy rainfall during the same forecast period.
“Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are likely, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps and in areas with significant antecedent rainfall,” PAGASA said in its weather advisory.
A gale warning is likewise hoisted over the seaboards of Camarines Norte, northern and eastern coast of Camarines Sur, eastern coast of Albay, Catanduanes, eastern coast of Sorsogon, and the northern and eastern coast of Northern Samar with waves of up to 4.5 meters high.
“Kaya kung maaari ay huwag munang pumalaot ‘yung mga kababayan nating may mga maliliit na sasakyang pandagat o kaya ‘yung mga motorbanca dahil magiging maalon hanggang sa napakaalon ang karagatan,” Torres said. —av