Rains to persist in Bicol, Visayas as ‘Urduja’ slows down

Satellite image from Pagasa website

Moderate to heavy rainfall would persist over Bicol and Visayas regions as tropical storm “Urduja” remained almost stationary on its track, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Friday afternoon.

In its 2:00 p.m. severe weather bulletin, the state weather bureau said moderate to heavy rainfall is expected within Urduja’s 500 kilometer diameter.

Urduja was last tracked 230 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, Pagasa said, adding that it slowed down while moving northwest at 5 kilometers per hour (kph).

The tropical storm packed maximum sustained winds of 75 kph and gustiness of up to 90 kph, Pagasa said.

The state weather bureau also stressed that sea travel remains risky for fisher folks and small boat operators over the eastern seaboards of Bicol region and Visayas.

Signal No. 2 was still hoisted over the provinces of Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, and Biliran

Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 is still raised over Catanduanes; Camarines Sur; Albay; Sorsogon; Romblon; Masbate, including Burias and Ticao Islands; Leyte; Southern Leyte; Northern Cebu; Capiz; Aklan; Northern Iloilo; and Dinagat Islands.

Pagasa advised the public and local disaster risk reduction and management councils to take appropriate actions and monitor its severe weather bulletins.                        /kga