Carina becomes severe tropical storm; Signal No. 1 over part of Cagayan

Carina (international name: Gaemi) has become a severe tropical storm while remaining almost stationary over the Philippine Sea, PAGASA said Sunday evening.

In its 11 p.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, the state weather bureau said that the center of Severe Tropical Storm Carina is estimated to be 385 km east of Casiguran, Aurora, with maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 115 km/h, with "strong to storm-force" winds extending up to 330 km from the center.

Storm Signal No. 1 has been hoisted over the northeastern portion of Cagayan (Santa Ana). Carina also continues to enhance the Southwest Monsoon, or Habagat, bringing moderate to intense rainfall over parts of the western portion of Luzon from Sunday evening through Wednesday. 

Accumulated rainfall in the period from Sunday night to Monday evening is expected to reach 100-200 mm in the extreme northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan and 50-100 mm in the Babuyan Islands and the eastern portions of mainland Cagayan and Isabela.

Carina is forecast to continue to intensify over the next four days and may reach typhoon category within 24 hours. However, it is expected to remain far from the Philippine landmass as it continues to move north-northwest to northward from now until Tuesday. It is seen to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning. — BM, GMA Integrated News