15 areas under Signal No. 1 as Kristine maintains strength —PAGASA

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 was hoisted over 15 areas as Tropical Depression Kristine moved over the Philippine Sea on Monday morning, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the following areas are under TCWS No.1:

Luzon

• Catanduanes
• Masbate including Ticao Island and Burias Island
• Camarines Sur
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Camarines Norte
• the eastern portion of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Buenavista, San Narciso, San Andres)

Visayas

• Eastern Samar
• Northern Samar
• Samar
• Leyte
• Biliran
• Southern Leyte

Mindanao

• Dinagat Islands
• Surigao del Norte including Siargao - Bucas Grande Group

“The highest TCWS that may be hoisted during the occurrence of KRISTINE is Wind Signal No. 4,” PAGASA said.

PAGASA added that Kristine was located 870 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas packing maximum sustained winds of 55 km per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph, and moving west southwestward at 30 kph.

“This tropical cyclone is forecast to make landfall over Northern Luzon by Friday (25 October),” PAGASA said.

According to the weather bureau, Kristine may reach typhoon level by Thursday evening or Friday morning.

“KRISTINE is forecast to intensify into a tropical storm in the next 12 hours. It may reach severe tropical storm category by Wednesday (23 October) and typhoon category by Thursday (24 October) evening or Friday (25 October) morning, prior to landfall over the northeastern portion of Cagayan,” it said.

Rains

Heavy to intense rains are expected over Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Northern Samar from Monday to Tuesday noon due to Kristine, PAGASA said.

Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rains may prevail over Quezon and the rest of Bicol Region, and Eastern Visayas.

“Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are likely, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps and in areas with significant antecedent rainfall,” PAGASA said.

Winds

Minimal to minor impacts from strong winds are possible in areas under TCWS No. 1, according to PAGASA.

Due to the wind flow towards the circulation of Kristine and the Northeasterly Windflow, strong to gale-force gusts are expected on Monday in Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, 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.

Sea conditions

For sea conditions, moderate to rough seas of up to 4.5 meters may be experienced in the following areas:

Up to 4.5 meters - the seaboards of Isabela, Aurora, Polillo Islands, Catanduanes, Northern Samar, and the eastern seaboards of mainland Cagayan, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur.

Up to 4.0 m - The seaboard of Batanes, the remaining seaboard of Cagayan, the eastern seaboard of Quezon, the remaining eastern seaboard of Bicol Region, and the eastern seaboard of Eastern Samar.

Up to 3.0 m - The seaboards of Ilocos Region, the seaboard of Dinagat Islands, and the seaboard of Davao Region.

“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,” PAGASA said.

Meanwhile, the remaining seaboards of the country are expected to experience moderate seas of up to 2.0 meters.

“Mariners of motorbancas and similarly-sized vessels are advised to take precautionary measures while venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigation under these conditions,” PAGASA said.

The hoisting of a Gale Warning is possible, according to PAGASA.

Classes were suspended in some areas in anticipation of the bad weather due to Kristine.

Meanwhile, national government agencies and local government units (LGUs) in Northern Luzon have started preparations for Kristine, according to officials on Monday.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Sunday advised the public to take early precautions in light of Kristine, which is expected to develop into a typhoon and affect over a million people. —KBK/KG, GMA Integrated News