Ursula further strengthens; to hit Eastern Samar on Christmas Eve
MANILA, Philippines — Severe Tropical Storm Ursula (international name: Phanfone) has continued to intensify while inching closer to Eastern Visayas, the state weather bureau said Tuesday.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Ursula was forecast to hit Eastern Samar either Tuesday afternoon or early evening.
In its 11 a.m. weather update, Pagasa said Ursula was last spotted at 185 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar and moving west at 20 kilometers per hour (kph) as it packed maximum sustained winds of 110 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph.
Pagasa has raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 over the following areas:
- Southern portion of Quezon (Mulanay, San Narciso, San Andres, San Francisco)
- Marinduque
- Eastern Oriental Mindoro (Socorro, Pola, Pinamalayan, Gloria, Bansud, Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay, Bulalacao)
- Southern Occidental Mindoro (Calintaan, Rizal, San Jose, Magsaysay)
- Romblon
- Albay
- Sorsogon
- Masbate including Burias and Ticao Islands
- Northern Samar
- Eastern Samar
- Samar
- Leyte
- Biliran
- Extreme northern Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands (Bantayan, Madridejos, Santa Fe, Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remigio, Bogo City, Tabogon, Tabuelan, Borbon, San Francisco, Poro, Tudela, Pilar)
- Northeastern Iloilo (Carles, Balasan, Estancia, Batad, San Dionisio, Sara, Concepcion, Lemery, Ajuy)
- Northern Antique (Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, Culasi, Tibiao)
- Capiz
- Aklan
TCWS No. 1 was likewise hoisted over the following areas:
- Bulacan
- Bataan
- Metro Manila
- Rizal
- Cavite
- rest of Quezon
- Laguna
- Batangas
- Camarines Sur
- Camarines Norte
- Catanduanes
- rest of Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island
- rest of Oriental Mindoro
- Northern Palawan (Linapacan, El Nido, Taytay, Araceli, Dumaran, San Vicente, Roxas)
- Calamian Islands
- Cuyo Islands
- Southern Leyte
- rest of northern Cebu (Carmen, Asturias, Tuburan, Catmon, Sogod)
- Central Cebu (Aloguinsan, Carcar City, Pinamungahan, San Fernando, Naga City, Toledo City, Minglanilla,
- Balamban, Talisay City, Cebu City, Cordova, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, Danao City)
- Northeastern Bohol (Inabanga, Danao, Dagohoy, Pilar, Guindulman, Anda, Candijay, Alicia, Buenavista, Jetafe, Talibon, Trinidad, Bien Unido, San Miguel, Ubay, Mabini, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia)
- rest of Antique
- rest of Iloilo
- Guimaras
- northern Negros Occidental (Bacolod City, Bago City, Cadiz City, Calatrava, Enrique B. Magalona, Escalante City, La Carlota City, La Castellana, Manapla, Moises Padilla, Binalbagan, Hinigaran, Isabela, Murcia, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, Sagay City, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City, San Enrique, Silay City, Talisay City, Toboso, Valladolid, Victorias City)
- Northern Negros Oriental (Canlaon City, Guihulngan City, Jimalalud, La Libertad, Vallehermoso)
- Dinagat Islands
- Surigao del Norte including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands
The state weather bureau said sporadic to frequent heavy rains may be experienced over Dinagat Islands, Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands, Eastern Visayas, Sorsogon, Masbate, northern and central Cebu, northern Negros Provinces, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, and Romblon between Tuesday and Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Pagasa said, light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains is likely over the rest of Bicol Region, Quezon, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, and the rest of Visayas as well as Surigao del Norte.
