MANILA – More areas have been placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal no. 1 as Tropical Depression (TD) Kristine maintained its strength, the weather bureau said Monday.
The areas are 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); Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Biliran, and Southern Leyte; and Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte, including Siargao – Bucas Grande.
Kristine has maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center, and gustiness of up to 70 kph as of posting time. It was last seen 870 km east of Eastern Visayas.
It is forecast to bring strong to gale-force gusts over Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, the southern portion of Palawan, Siquijor, Bohol, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Bangsamoro Region, Sarangani, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental.
Moderate to rough seas continue to prevail over the seaboards of Isabela, Aurora, Polillo Islands, Catanduanes, Northern Samar, and the eastern seaboards of mainland Cagayan, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur.
Mariners of small seacraft, including all types of motor bancas, are advised not to venture out to the sea, especially if inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astrononical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
In a press briefing shortly before noon, PAGASA forecaster Veronica Torres said the TD could intensify into a tropical storm in the next 12 hours.
It is forecast to further intensify, reaching tropical storm category by Wednesday, and typhoon category by Thursday or Friday, Torres said. (PNA)