Kristine keeps strength over Northern Luzon; 7 areas under Signal No. 3

READ: LIVE UPDATES: Tropical Storm Kristine

Track of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami). Photo from Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) maintained its strength while crossing Northern Luzon on Thursday morning, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

In its 11 a.m., October 24, bulletin, the state weather agency reported that Kristine was last spotted in the vicinity of Bauko, Mountain Province, packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and a gustiness of up to 160 kph.

Pagasa likewise hoisted Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 over the following areas:

• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• Northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Bayombong, Ambaguio, Bagabag, Villaverde, Kayapa, Bambang, Diadi, Quezon, Solano, Santa Fe, Aritao)
• Southern portion of Ilocos Sur (Cervantes, Quirino, Sigay, Suyo, Alilem, Sugpon, Tagudin, Santa Cruz, Salcedo, Gregorio del Pilar, San Emilio, Lidlidda, Burgos, San Esteban, Santiago, Banayoyo, Galimuyod, City of Candon, Santa Lucia, Nagbukel, Santa Maria, Narvacan)
• La Union
• Pangasinan

Wind speeds between 89 kph and 117 kph may be expected in these places and the state weather bureau advised affected residents to take caution amid moderate to significant threats to life and property.

READ: Kristine is now over Cordillera Region crossing Northern Luzon – Pagasa

Pagasa, meanwhile, raised TCWS No. 2 over the following areas:

• Metro Manila
• Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
• Isabela
• Quirino
• The rest of Nueva Vizcaya
• Apayao
• Kalinga
• Abra
• Ilocos Norte
• The rest of Ilocos Sur
• Nueva Ecija
• Aurora
• Bulacan
• Tarlac
• Pampanga
• Zambales
• Bataan
• Rizal
• Cavite
• The western portion of Batangas (Lian, Nasugbu, Tuy, Calatagan, Balayan)
• Northern portion of Laguna (Cabuyao City, City of Santa Rosa, City of Bisan, City of San Pedro, Pakil, Mabitac, Pangil, Santa Maria, Siniloan, Famy)

TCWS No. 2 brings about wind speeds of 62 kph to 88 kph, which poses minor to moderate threats to life and property, according to the state meteorologist.

READ: PCG: 8,786 people stranded at 126 ports nationwide amid Kristine

In Luzon and Visayas, some areas were placed under TCWS No. 1:

Luzon

• Batanes
• The rest of Batangas
• The rest of Quezon
The rest of Occidental Mindoro
• Oriental Mindoro
• Marinduque
• Romblon
• The 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, Santo Nino, Almagro, Tagapul-An, San Jorge, Matuguinao, Jiabong, Pagsanghan, City of Catbalogan, Gandara, Motiong, San Jose de Buan, Santa Margarita, Tarangnan, Daram, Zumarraga)
• Biliran
• Northern portion of Eastern Samar (Maslog, Jipapad, Arteche, Oras, San Policarpo)
• Northwestern portion of Leyte (Calubian, San Isidro)

Pagasa said areas under the lowest wind signal may anticipate 39 kph to 61 kph wind speeds that may cause minimal to minor threats to life and property.

Severe Tropical Storm Kristine likewise prompted Pagasa to raise a gale warning over the seaboards of Luzon and the western and central seaboards of Visayas for Thursday, October 24.