Tropical Storm Kristine slightly intensifies; Signal No. 2 in 5 areas

 Tropical Storm Kristine slightly intensifies, Signal No. 2 in 5 areas

Image from DOST / Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) slightly intensified as it moved over the Bicol region, with Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 and 2 raised in several areas across the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Tuesday afternoon. Pagasa, in its Tuesday afternoon update, said Kristine was last spotted some 390 kilometers east of Daet, Camarines Norte and moving west-northwest at 15 kilometer per hour (kph). 

Its maximum wind speed increased from 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center to 75 kph, while gustiness likewise increased from 80 kph to 90 kph. 

The following areas are under TCWS No. 2:

  • Catanduanes
  • Eastern portion of Camarines Norte (Basud, Daet, Talisay, Vinzons, Paracale, Mercedes)
  • Eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Presentacion, Garchitorena, Tinambac, Siruma, Lagonoy, Goa, San Jose, Saglay, Tigaon)
  • Eastern portion of Albay (Rapu-Rapu, Bacacay, City of Tabaco, Malilipot, Malinao, Tiwi)
  • Eastern portion of Sorsogon (Barcelona, Gubat, Prieto Diaz)

TCWS No. 1 is up over the following areas:

Luzon

  • Ilocos Norte
  • Ilocos Sur
  • La Union
  • Pangasinan
  • Apayao
  • Kalinga
  • Abra
  • Mountain Province
  • Ifugao
  • Benguet
  • Cagayan including Babuya Islands
  • Isabela
  • Quirino
  • Nueva Vizcaya
  • Aurora
  • Nueva Ecija
  • Tarlac
  • Zambales
  • Bataan
  • Pampanga
  • Bulacan
  • Metro Manila
  • Cavite
  • Laguna
  • Batangas
  • Rizal
  • Quezon including Polillo Islands
  • Occidental Mindoro including Lubang island
  • Oriental Mindoro
  • Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands
  • Marinduque
  • Romblon
  • Rest of Camarines Norte
  • Rest of Camarines Sur
  • Rest of Albay
  • Rest of Sorsgon

Visayas

  • Rest of Eastern Samar
  • Rest of Northern Samar
  • Samar
  • Leyte
  • Biliran
  • Southern Leyte

 Mindanao

  • Dinagat Islands
  • Surigao del Norte including Siargao – Bucas Grande Group

Landfall forecast

Kristine is forecast to make a landfall over Isabela or northern Aurora on Wednesday evening, October 23, or early Thursday morning (October 24).

It is also expected to develop into a severe tropical storm before it makes a landfall.

 It is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Friday, October 25.

Rough seas alert!

A gale warning is raised over the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon, southern seaboard of Southern Luzon, and the eastern seaboard of the Visayas. 

Pagasa warned that “[s]ea travel is risky for all types or tonnage of vessels.”

Read more...