Signal No. 2 up over 27 areas as Kristine intensifies east of Quezon

A total of 27 areas in Luzon and the Visayas have been placed under Signal No. 2 as Tropical Storm Kristine (International name: Trami) slightly intensifies over the Philippine Sea east of Quezon, PAGASA said.

According to its 5 a.m. weather bulletin, Kristine is moving west northwestward at 25 kilometers per hour (km/h) with maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h and gustiness of up to 105 km/h.

It is last spotted 180 km north northeast of Virac, Catanduanes.

Signal No. 2 was hoisted over the following areas:

Luzon

• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Pangasinan
• Apayao
• Abra
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province 
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• mainland Cagayan
• Isabela
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
•  Aurora
• Nueva Ecija
• Tarlac
• the northern portion of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig)
• the northern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Miguel, San Ildefonso),
• the northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta) including Polillo Islands,
• Camarines Norte
• the northern and eastern portions of Camarines Sur (Calabanga, Goa, Tigaon, Saglay, San Jose, Lagonoy, Tinambac, Siruma, Garchitorena, Presentacion, Caramoan),
• Catanduanes
• the eastern portion of Albay (Rapu-Rapu, Bacacay, City of Tabaco, Malilipot, Malinao, Tiwi, Manito, Santo Domingo)
• the eastern portion of Sorsogon (Barcelona, Gubat, Prieto Diaz, City of Sorsogon)

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)

Placed under Signal No. 1 are the following areas:

Luzon

• Batanes
• Babuyan Islands
• Pampanga
• the rest of Zambales
• Bataan
•  the rest of Bulacan
• Metro Manila
• Rizal
• Cavite
• Laguna
• Batangas
• the rest of Quezon
• Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands
• Oriental Mindoro
• Marinduque
• Romblon
• Calamian Islands
• the rest of Camarines Sur
• the rest of Albay
• the rest of Sorsogon
• Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands
• Calamian Islands

Visayas

• Aklan
• Capiz
• Antique including Caluya Islands,
• Iloilo
• Guinaras
• the northern portion of Negros Occidental (Pontevedra, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Bago City, La Carlota City, Valladolid, Pulupandan, Bacolod City, San Enrique, Murcia, Silay City, City of Talisay, Enrique B. Magalona, Manapla, City of Victorias, Cadiz City, Sagay City, City of Escalante, Toboso, Calatrava, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City)
• the northern portion of Negros Oriental (Vallehermoso, Canlaon City, City of Guihulngan)
• the northern and central portions of Cebu (Alcantara, Argao, Dumanjug, Sibonga, Pinamungahan, Ronda, Liloan, Cebu City, Moalboal, Consolacion, Danao City, Borbon, Carmen, Daanbantayan, Tuburan, City of Bogo, Tabogon, City of Naga, Lapu-Lapu City, City of Carcar, Mandaue City, Catmon, Minglanilla, Toledo City, Cordova, Compostela, San Remigio, Balamban, Aloguinsan, San Fernando, Asturias, Barili, Medellin, Sogod, Tabuelan, City of Talisay) including Bantayan Islands and Camotes Islands
• Bohol
• 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

Track and intensity outlook

Kristine is forecast to move generally northwestward for the next 24 hours before turning generally westward for the rest of the forecast period, PAGASA said.

It is expected to make landfall over Isabela or northern Aurora Wednesday evening or Thursday early morning. It will then cross the mountainous terrain of Northern Luzon and emerge over the waters west of Ilocos Region Thursday afternoon and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) region on Friday.

The tropical storm is forecast to gradually intensify into a severe tropical storm before making landfall. Slight weakening will occur while crossing Northern Luzon and re-intensification may occur over the West Philippine Sea, according to PAGASA.

Malacañang on Tuesday evening announced the suspension of government work and classes in all levels in the entire Luzon on Wednesday in anticipation of the effects of Tropical Storm Kristine. 

Some areas also suspended classes on Wednesday.

Airline companies also announced the cancellation of some flights scheduled on Wednesday due to bad weather. —LDF/KG, GMA Integrated News