Tropical storm Urduja is expected to make landfall with moderate to heavy rainfall over Eastern Samar on Friday morning, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
In its 5:00 pm severe weather bulletin on Thursday, Pagasa said that the tropical storm was last tracked 85 kilometers east-southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.
The storm continued to move west at 7 kilometers per hour (kph), packing maximum sustained winds of up to 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.
Residents in the Visayas and the regions of Bicol, Caraga should expect scattered to widespread rains within 24 hours. Pagasa also warned of possible flashfloods and landslides.
As of the latest bulletin, Storm Signal No. 2 was raised over:
- Eastern Samar
- Samar
- Biliran
Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 was raised in some areas in Luzon and Visayas:
- Catanduanes
- Camarines Sur
- Albay
- Sorsogon
- Masbate
- Romblon
- Northern Samar
- Leyte
- Southern Leyte
- Northern Cebu including Bantayan Island
- Capiz
- Aklan
- Northern Iloilo
Pagasa advised fisher folks and small boat operators not to travel over the eastern seaboard of Bicol Region and seaboards of Visayas due to rough to very rough seas brought by Urduja.
The state weather bureau also advised the public and disaster risk reduction and management councils to continue monitoring for updates and take appropriate actions.