‘Vinta’ to leave PH on Christmas Eve

Tropical storm “Vinta” is forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Sunday, eve of Christmas Day.

The storm maintained its strength as it headed towards Southern Palawan, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said midday Saturday.

Signal No. 2 remained hoisted over Southern Palawan while the rest of the island province is under Signal No. 1.

“Scattered to widespread moderate to heavy rains will prevail over Palawan, while scattered light to moderate with at times heavy rains is expected over Bicol region, Visayas, Mindanao, and the rest of MIMAROPA within 24 hours,” Pagasa said.

The state weather bureau warned that sea travel remained dangerous over the seaboards of Palawan, the southern seaboard of Mindoro provinces and the western seaboard of Aklan and Antique due to the storm.

Vinta was last spotted 245 kilometers west northwest of Zamboanga City, blowing winds of 80 kilometers per hour (KPH) near the center and gustiness of up to 95 kph. It moved westward at 20 kph.             /kga