Metro Manila, Philippines – Over 20 areas were placed under cyclone Wind Signal 2 as Tropical Storm ‘Kristine’ maintained its strength while moving over the waters of Quezon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its latest bulletin.
As of 8 a.m., the weather bureau has hoisted Signal 2 over the following areas:
+ Ilocos Norte
+ Ilocos Sur
+ La Union
+ Pangasinan
+ Apayao
+ Abra
+ Kalinga
+ Mountain Province
+ Ifugao
+ Benguet
+ Mainland Cagayan
+ Isabela
+ Quirino
+ Nueva Vizcaya
+ Aurora
+ Nueva Ecija
+ Bulacan
+ Tarlac
+ Pampanga
+ Zambales
+ Northern and eastern portions of Quezon including Polillo Islands
+ Camarines Norte
+ Camarines Sur
+ Catanduanes
+ Albay
+ Northeastern portion of Sorsogon
Over 30 areas meanwhile were placed under the lowest storm alert. These are:
+ Batanes
+ Babuyan Islands
+ Bataan
+ Metro Manila
+ Rizal
+ Cavite
+ Laguna
+ Batangas
+ the rest of Quezon
+ Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands
+ Oriental Mindoro
+ Marinduque
+ Romblon
+ Calamian Islands
+ the rest of Sorsogon
+ Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands
+ Aklan
+ Capiz
+ Antique including Caluya Islands
+ Iloilo
+ Guimaras
+ the northern portion of Negros Occidental
+ the northern portion of Negros Oriental
+ the northern and central portions of Cebu including Bantayan Islands and Camotes Islands,
+ Bohol
+ the rest of Eastern Samar
+ the rest of Northern Samar
+ Samar
+ Leyte
+ Biliran
+ Southern Leyte
+ Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte including Siargao – Bucas Grande Group
Forecasters last spotted the storm 310 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora.
The weather bureau said ‘Kristine’ may intensify into a severe tropical storm before making landfall over Isabela or northern aurora on Wednesday night or tomorrow, Oct. 24.
“It will then cross the mountainous terrain of Northern Luzon and emerge over the waters west of Ilocos Region tomorrow afternoon. Slight weakening will occur while crossing Northern Luzon. Re-intensification may occur over the West Philippine Sea,” said PAGASA in its forecast.
The storm will likely exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility – the weather monitoring zone, on Friday, Oct. 25, the bureau said.
