More areas under Signal 2, storm surge warning up in 8 provinces due to ‘Kristine’

Metro Manila, Philippines – More areas were placed under wind Signal Number 2, as Tropical Storm Kristine slightly intensified over the Philippine sea, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its latest bulletin.

Wind Signal Number 2 is hoisted over Catanduanes, eastern portions of Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, and Sorsogon, northeastern portion of Northern Samar, and northern portion of Eastern Samar.

The lowest storm alert was hoisted over 40 areas:

+ Ilocos Norte

+ Ilocos Sur

+ La Union

+ Pangasinan

+ Apayao

+ Kalinga

+ Abra

+ Mountain Province

+ Ifugao

+ Benguet

+ Cagayan including Babuyan Islands

+ Isabela

+ Quirino

+ Nueva Vizcaya

+ Aurora

+ Nueva Ecija

+ Tarlac

+ Zambales

+ Bataan

+ Pampanga

+ Bulacan

+ Metro Manila

+ Cavite

+ Laguna

+ Batangas

+ Rizal

+ Quezon including Pollilo Islands

+ Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands

+ Oriental Mindoro

+ Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands

+ Marinduque

+ Romblon

+ rest of Camarines Norte

+ rest of Camarines Sur

+ rest of Albay

+ the rest of Sorsogon

+ rest of Eastern Samar

+ 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 east of Daet, Camarines Norte with sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 90 kph.

PAGASA said “Kristine” may intensify into a severe tropical storm before making landfall on Isabela and Northern Aurora on Wednesday, Oct. 23.

“Changes in forecast track (are) not ruled out, depending on the movement of the weather systems surrounding this tropical cyclone in the next few days,” the weather bureau said.

The weather bureau earlier said the storm may reach typhoon category before it exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility - the weather monitoring zone - on Friday, Oct. 25.

Meanwhile, PAGASA issued a storm surge warning in eight areas in Luzon.

The weather bureau said minimal to moderate risk of storm surge or the abnormal rise in sea levels, is likely to happen in the coastal communities of Albay, Aurora, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Isabela, and Cagayan within the next two days.

Forecasters advised people to be on alert.