PAGASA: 11 areas under Signal No. 2 as Kristine nears Bicol

Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) maintained its strength as it moved northwestward over the sea east of Bicol Region, putting more areas under tropical cyclone wind signal, PAGASA said in its 11 p.m. bulletin.

The state weather bureau said Kristine is moving northwestward at 10 kilometers per hour (km/h) with a maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 90 km/h.

It is last spotted 345 km east northeast of Daet, Camarines Norte.

A total of 11 areas have been placed under Signal No. 2 due to the weather condition.

Luzon

• the southern portion of mainland Cagayan (Peñablanca, Enrile, Tuguegarao City)
• Isabela
• the northeastern portion of Quirino (Maddela)
• the northeastern portion of Aurora (Dinalungan, Casiguran, Dilasag)
• Catanduanes
• the eastern portion of Camarines Norte (Basud, Daet, Talisay, Vinzons, Paracale, Mercedes)
• the eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Presentacion, Garchitorena, Tinambac, Siruma, Lagonoy, Goa, San Jose, Saglay, Tigaon)
• the eastern portion of Albay (Rapu-Rapu, Bacacay, City of Tabaco, Malilipot, Malinao, Tiwi)
• the eastern portion of Sorsogon (Barcelona, Gubat, Prieto Diaz)

Visayas

• the northeastern portion of Northern Samar (Palapag, Mapanas, Gamay, Laoang, Catubig, Lapinig, Pambujan, San Roque)
• the northern portion of Eastern Samar (Jipapad, San Policarpo, Arteche)

Signal No. 1 was hoisted in the following areas:

Luzon

• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Pangasinan
• Apayao
• Kalinga 
• Abra
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• Batanes
• the rest of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
• the rest of Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• the rest of 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'
• the rest of Camarines Norte
• the rest of Camarines Sur
• the rest of Albay
• the rest of Sorsogon
• Calamian Islands

Visayas

• Aklan
• Capiz
• the northern portion of Antique (Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, Culasi) including Caluya Islands
• the northern portion of Iloilo (Sara, Batad, San Dionisio, Carles, Estancia, Balasan)
• the rest of Eastern Samar
• the rest of Northern Samar
• Samar
• Leyte
• Biliran
• Southern Leyte

Mindanao

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

Kristine is expected to make landfall over Isabela or northern Aurora Wednesday evening or early morning of Thursday, 24 October. It will then cross the mountainous terrain of Northern Luzon and emerge over the waters west of Ilocos Region on Thursday afternoon or evening.

PAGASA said it is forecast to gradually intensify into a severe tropical storm before making landfall. Slight weakening will occur while crossing Northern Luzon. Re-intensification may occur over the West Philippine Sea, the weather bureau added.

It is seen to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) region on Friday, 25 October. —LDF, GMA Integrated News