Signal No. 2 up over 26 Luzon areas as Kristine maintains strength —PAGASA

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 is raised in 26 areas in Luzon as Tropical Storm Kristine maintained its strength while approaching the Isabela and northern Aurora area on Wednesday, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

In its 8 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the following areas are under TCWS No. 2:

• Ilocos Norte 
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Pangasinan
• Apayao
• Abra
• Kalinga 
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• mainland Cagayan
• Isabela
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Aurora
• Nueva Ecija
• Bulacan
• Tarlac
• Pampanga
• Zambales
• the northern and eastern portions of Quezon (Infanta, General Nakar, Real, Mauban, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Calauag, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan) including Polillo Islands
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduanes
• Albay
• the northeastern portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz, City of Sorsogon)

Meanwhile, TCWS No. 1 is hoisted in the following areas in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao: 

Luzon

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

Visayas

• Aklan
• Capiz
• Antique including Caluya Islands
• Iloilo
• Guimaras
• 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

Kristine (international name: Trami) was located 310 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora packing maximum sustained winds of 85 km per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph. The storm was moving west northwestward 15 kph.

“It is forecast to make landfall over Isabela or northern Aurora tonight or tomorrow (24 October) early morning,” PAGASA said.

“KRISTINE 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,” it added.

Kristine is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) region on Friday, according to PAGASA.

The inclement weather has prompted Malacañang to suspend government work and classes in all levels in Luzon on Wednesday.

Several areas outside Luzon have also suspended classes for the day. Flights were also canceled due to Kristine. —KBK, GMA Integrated News