By Brian Campued
The Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) maintained its strength over the coastal waters of southern Ilocos Sur as it nears the boundary of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) Thursday afternoon, the state weather bureau reported.
In its tropical cyclone bulletin issued at 5:00 p.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said “Kristine” was located over the waters of Santa Lucia, Ilocos Sur, while 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.
In its track forecast, PAGASA said Kristine may exit the PAR Friday afternoon.
However, an “extended outlook” by the agency shows that the storm may loop over the West Philippine Sea on Sunday (Oct. 27) and Monday (Oct. 28), moving eastward or east-northwestward towards the PAR.
“This scenario heavily depends on the behavior of the weather disturbance east of the PAR region, which is expected to develop into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours,” the state weather bureau explained.
As of 4:00 p.m., the low pressure area (LPA) being monitored by PAGASA outside the PAR has a “high chance” of developing into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours.
The LPA was last spotted 2,465 kilometers east of northeastern Mindanao. If the weather disturbance enters the PAR, it will be given the name “Leon.”
“Posibleng lumapit ito sa may northern Luzon area o hindi kaya’y mag-recurve,” PAGASA weather specialist Veronica Torres said in a public briefing.
On the other hand, the potential of another LPA within the PAGASA monitoring domain to develop into a tropical depression in the next 24 hours is still “low.”
Due to the effects of STS Kristine, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 is still raised in Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan.
TCWS No. 2 is, likewise, hoisted over the following areas in Luzon:
- Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands
- Isabela
- Quirino
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Apayao
- Kalinga
- Abra
- Ifugao
- Mountain Province
- Benguet
- Ilocos Norte
- Aurora
- Nueva Ecija
- Tarlac
- Zambales
- Bataan
- Pampanga
- Bulacan
Additionally, most parts of southern Luzon and parts of the Visayas are also placed under TCWS No. 1:
- Batanes
- Metro Manila
- Rizal
- Batangas
- Laguna
- Cavite
- Quezon
- Occidental Mindoro
- Oriental Mindoro
- Marinduque
- Romblon
- Northern portion of mainland Palawan (El Nido, Taytay, Araceli, San Vicente, Dumaran, Roxas) including Calamian Islands, Cuyo, and Kalayaan Islands
- Camarines Norte
- Camarines Sur
- Catanduanes
- Albay
- Sorsogon
- Masbate, including Ticao and Burias Islands
Visayas
- Aklan
- Capiz
- Antique, including Caluya Islands
- Iloilo
- Bantayan Islands
- Northern Samar
- Northern portion of Samar (Calbayog City, Almagro, Tagapul-An, Santo Niño)
PAGASA warns residents living in areas under the wind signals of minimal to storm-force winds brought by Kristine.
“Asahan din naman natin for today ‘yung bugso ng mga malalakas na hangin sa areas outside wind signal areas. So, ibig sabihin, sa buong bansa, posible ‘yung bugso ng mga malalakas na hangin,” Torres said.
Strong to gale-force gusts are also possible over Mimaropa, Bicol Region, the Visayas, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, BARMM, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Davao Region on Friday.
The “minimal to moderate” threat of storm surge of up to two meters above normal tide levels is still possible in the next 48 hours over low-lying, coastal localities of Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, and Zambales, according to PAGASA.
Meanwhile, the state weather bureau also cautioned against sea travel, as gale warning is still hoisted over the seaboards of Luzon as well as the western and central seaboards of Visayas.
“All mariners must remain in port or, if underway, seek shelter or safe harbor as soon as possible until winds and waves subside,” the state weather bureau said.
In terms of rainfall, PAGASA said that heavy to intense rains will persist in Pangasinan, Zambales, La Union, Cavite, Batangas, and Occidental Mindoro until Friday afternoon.
Moderate to heavy rains will also be experienced in Cordillera Administrative Region, the rest of Ilocos Region, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Metro Manila, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Antique, Aklan, Negros Occidental, Palawan including Calamian Islands.
—av