Kristine about to make landfall in Isabela

As of 10 p.m. Kristine is over the coastal waters of Palanan, Isabela, packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center with gustiness of up to 130 km/h, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (Pagasa).

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“Kristine is about to make landfall over Isabela and is forecast to cross Northern Luzon over the next 12 hours,” Pagasa said in its weather update.

After traversing the mountainous terrain of Northern Luzon, the center of Kristine may emerge over the waters west of Ilocos Region by Thursday morning or afternoon before exiting the Philippine area of responsibility on Friday.

“Kristine may slightly weaken while crossing Northern Luzon due to land interaction, with downgrading into a tropical storm not ruled out,” Pagasa said. “However, re-intensification may occur once the tropical cyclone moves over the West Philippine Sea.”

Pagasa also raised gale warning over the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas.

The seaboards of Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Region, and Zambales are seen to have eight meters of waves which is more than two stories tall.

Up to six meters of waves are also seen in the western seaboard of Bataan; the seaboard of Lubang Island; up to 5.5 meters of waves are seen in he western seaboards of Batangas, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, and Calamian Islands; while up to 4.5 meters of waves are seen in the seaboards of Aurora, Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, the northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes, and the northern seaboard of Camarines Sur.

Pagasa said “sea travel is risky for all types or tonnage of vessels.”

“All mariners must remain in port or, if underway, seek shelter or safe harbor as soon as possible until winds and waves subside,” Pagasa said.