“Changes in forecast track are also not ruled out, depending on the movement of the weather systems over the mid-latitude over the next days,” PAGASA said.
Metro Manila, Philippines — Signal No. 1 is up in 17 areas as Tropical Depression Kristine slowed down over the Philippine Sea, the weather bureau said on Monday, Oct. 21.
In its 5 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised the lowest alert level in the following:
+ Luzon: Southeastern portion of Isabela, Aurora, northern and eastern portions of Quezon including Polillo Islands, Catanduanes, Masbate including Ticao Island and Burias Island, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Norte;
+ Visayas: Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Biliran, and Southern Leyte;
+ Mindanao: Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte including Siargao – Bucas Grande Group.
PAGASA said areas under Signal No. 1 may encounter minimal to minor impact from strong winds.
Meteorologists said strong to gale-force gusts are possible over Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, the southern portion of Palawan, Siquijor, Bohol, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Sarangani, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental
Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Northern Samar should expect heavy to intense downpour on Monday until Tuesday noon.
Romblon, Marinduque, Quezon, the rest of Bicol Region, and the rest of Eastern Visayas are forecast with moderate to heavy rains.
“Kristine” is the 11th tropical cyclone to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this year, and the state weather bureau said it is possible that it could trigger an alert as high as Signal No. 4.
“Kristine” entered the PAR at 12 a.m. on Monday as a tropical depression, and is forecast to intensify into a tropical storm within 12 hours.
Latest forecast of PAGASA showed further strengthening into a typhoon category by Thursday before its possible landfall over the northeastern portion of Cagayan.
“Since this tropical cyclone is still over the Philippine Sea, further intensification is likely, given the favorable environmental conditions (high SST and low wind shear) for development over the area,” PAGASA said.
“Kristine” was last spotted at 760 kilometers (km) east of Catarman, Northern Samar.
The tropical cyclone packs maximum sustained winds of 55 km per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 70 kph. It is moving westward at 15 kph.
