Several provinces in Bicol and Eastern Visayas were placed under tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) no. 2 on Tuesday afternoon as tropical storm ‘Kristine’ slightly intensifies over the Philippine Sea, state weather forecasters 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,” PAGASA said in its 5:00 p.m. advisory.
The following areas across the Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions are warned of possible minor to moderate impacts from gale-force winds, warranting the issuance of TCWS no. 2:
LUZON: 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) and 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) and the northern portion of Eastern Samar (Jipapad, San Policarpo, Arteche)
PAGASA, meanwhile, said the following areas remain under TCWS no. 1:
LUZON: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, 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, and the rest of Sorsogon
VISAYAS:The rest of Eastern Samar, the rest of Northern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Biliran, and Southern Leyte
MINDANAO: Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte including Siargao – Bucas Grande Group
PAGASA said ‘Kristine’ is expected to move generally northwestward until it makes landfall over Isabela or northern Aurora by Wednesday evening or early morning Thursday. It is projected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Friday.
“Changes in forecast track is not ruled out, depending on the movement of the weather systems surrounding this tropical cyclone in the next few days,” PAGASA said.
