QUEZON CITY (PIA) — Tropical Depression Kristine, whose eye was spotted at 760 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar, at 4 p.m., slightly decelerated over east of the Philippine Sea.
PAGASA weather forecaster Veronica Torres said during the Balitang Pambansa 6 PM newscast that the cyclone was packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph, with strong winds extending outwards up to 800 km from the center.
On its 5 pm weather bulletin, the weather bureau has raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 over several areas in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Luzon
• The southeastern portion of Isabela (Palanan, Dinapigue), Aurora, the northern and eastern portions of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Buenavista, San Narciso, San Andres, General Nakar, Pitogo, San Francisco, Calauag, Pagbilao, Infanta, Lopez, Catanauan, Mulanay, Unisan, General Luna, Plaridel, Quezon, Alabat, Sampaloc, Padre Burgos, Macalelon, Mauban, Perez, Agdangan, Gumaca, Atimonan, Real) including Pollilo Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate including Ticao Island and Burias Island
Visayas
• Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Biliran, and Southern Leyte
Mindanao
• Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte, including Siargao – Bucas Grande Group
Also, PAGASA maintains a heavy rainfall outlook, saying local winds may be slightly stronger in coastal and mountainous areas.
The highest wind signal that may be hoisted during the occurrence of Kristine is Wind Signal No. 4., the weather bureau said, adding that the wind flow coming towards the circulation of Kristine and the northeasterly windflow will also bring strong gale-force gusts.
Areas potentially affected by gale-force gusts include:
• Monday (21 October): Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, the southern portion of Palawan, Siquijor, Bohol, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, BARMM, Sarangani, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental
• Tuesday (22 October): Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Palawan, Romblon, Aklan, Antique, Negros Island Region, the northern portion of Cebu, Bohol, Southern Leyte, Zamboanga del Norte, Northern Mindanao, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Sarangani, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental.
• Wednesday (23 October): MIMAROPA, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Sea conditions
Meanwhile, PAGASA issued a gale warning at 5 p.m. Monday over the eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon. Up to very rough seas are forecast over the following coastal waters:
Up to 5.5 meters wave height in the northern and eastern seaboards of Bicol Region; 5.0 m in the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar; and up to 4.5 m in the seaboards of Isabela, Aurora, and Polillo Islands, the eastern seaboards of mainland Cagayan.
All mariners must remain in port or, if underway, seek shelter or safe harbor as soon as possible until winds and waves subside.
PAGASA also forecasts rough seas over the following coastal waters:
Up to 4.0-meter-high waves will be experienced in the seaboard of Batanes, the remaining seaboards of Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands, and the eastern seaboard of Eastern Samar; 3.5 m for the remaining seaboards of Northern Luzon, the seaboard of Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Norte; and 3.0 m in the seaboards of Bohol, Siquijor, Camiguin, the eastern seaboard of Davao Region, and the eastern seaboard of mainland Quezon.
Mariners of small seacrafts, including all types of motorbancas, are advised not to venture out to sea under these conditions, especially if inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels.
Kristine is forecast to move west-southwestward until tomorrow, October 22, morning before turning generally west-northwestward for the rest of the forecast period.
On the track forecast, Kristine may make landfall over Northern Luzon on Thursday, October 24, evening or Friday, October 25, morning. Changes in the forecast track are not ruled out, depending on the movement of the weather systems surrounding this tropical cyclone in the next few days.
Disaster response
Considering these developments, the public and disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned are advised to take all necessary measures to protect life and property.
People living in areas identified to be highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards are advised to follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials. (PIA DMD)
