By Brian Campued
Now outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), tropical cyclone Verbena intensifies further into a typhoon as it hovers over the north of Kalayaan Islands in Palawan on Thursday morning.
In its 11:00 a.m. update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the center of Typhoon Verbena (international name: Koto) was located 255 km north of Pag-asa Island.
It packs maximum sustained winds of 140 kph and gustiness of up to 170 kph, while moving west-northwestward at 15 kph.
“Posible pa rin po ‘yung mga maulap na panahon kahit malayo na nga po ‘yung sentro nitong Bagyong Verbena,” PAGASA weather specialist Leanne Loreto said.
The state weather bureau still warned of possible strong winds brought by Verbena in Kalayaan Islands as Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 remains hoisted over the area.
Verbena is also forecast to bring rough to very rough sea conditions over the seaboards of northern Luzon and the western seaboard of southern Luzon.
“Sea travel is risky for small seacrafts (including all motor bancas of any type or tonnage). Mariners of these vessels are advised to remain in port or seek safe harbor,” PAGASA said.
Meanwhile, the shear line will continue to drench the eastern section of northern Luzon until Sunday (Nov. 30).
Heavy to intense rains are expected over Cagayan as well as moderate to heavy rains in Apayao, Kalinga, and Isabela until Friday noon.
Moderate to heavy rains will also persist in Apayao, Cagayan, and Isabela from Friday noon to Saturday noon (Nov. 29).
Between Saturday noon to Sunday noon, moderate to heavy rains are likely to occur in Cagayan.
Flooding and landslides remain likely in these areas, PAGASA warned.
“Malaking bahagi naman po ng northern Luzon ay apektado pa rin ng mga kaulapan at mga pag-ulan dulot ng amihan or ng northeast monsoon,” Loreto said.
“Ngunit malaking bahagi naman po ng bansa ay magkakaroon naman po tayo ng maaliwalas na panahon—may mga pulo-pulo lamang tayong mga pag-ulan, na mga thunderstorms, pagsapit naman po ng hapon hanggang sa gabi,” she added.
