NCR stays under Signal No. 2, Kristine to exit PAR this afternoon

DESPITE the possibility of severe tropical storm Kristine leaving the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) within the day, Metro Manila and other provinces remain on Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2. 

According to the latest Tropical Cyclone Bulletin from PAGASA, the severe tropical cyclone is maintaining its power as it crosses over the sea west of Northern Luzon.

Photo Courtesy: PAGASA

In an interview, PAGASA’s weather forecaster Benison Estareja warned that red rainfall warnings could still be issued throughout the day, with the storm’s center expected to be near Bacnotan, La Union. 

There is also a low to moderate danger of storm surge with heights of 1.0 to 2.0 m above normal tide levels in the next 48 hours over low-lying or exposed coastal areas in Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, and Zambales.

Gusty winds, to continue

Meanwhile, the wind flow from Kristine’s circulation will produce strong to gale-force gusts over specific places, particularly coastal and upland areas that are more prone to strong winds:

• Today (25 October): MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Visayas, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, BARMM, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Davao Region.

• Tomorrow (26 October): Palawan, Siquijor, Bohol, Southern Leyte, Zamboanga del Norte, Camiguin, Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Norte.

• Sunday (27 October): Palawan, Romblon, Visayas, Siquijor, Bohol, Southern Leyte, Zamboanga del Norte, Camiguin, Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Norte.

Signal numbers

TCW Signal No. 2 is still in effect in Metro Manila, as well as in other provinces such as Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur. 

Along with those places are La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, northern Cavite, northern Rizal, and northern mainland Quezon. 

Photo Courtesy: PAGASA

Signal No. 1 covers Batanes, the rest of Rizal, the rest of Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, the rest of Quezon (including the Polillo Islands), Occidental Mindoro (including the Lubang Islands), Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, and Romblon.

The northern portion of mainland Palawan, comprising the Calamian, Cuyo, and Kalayaan Islands, Camarines Norte and Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, northern and central Sorsogon, and northern and central Masbate. 

While in Visayas, Signal No. 1 covers Aklan, Capiz, Antique (including the Caluya Islands), and the northwestern portion of Iloilo, which includes Lambunao, Calinog, Bingawan, Janiuay, and the City of Passi.

What to expect

This afternoon, the severe tropical storm is forecast to exit PAR and proceed west northwestward to westward during the next two days. PAGASA also stated that there is a growing outlook. 

Kristine is expected to “loop over” or re-enter the PAR via the West Philippine Sea on Sunday and Monday. However, this scenario is strongly reliant on the behavior of the tropical cyclone east of the PAR region. 

Another tropical depression, which will be called Leon after it hits the Philippine Area of Responsibility, is now 2500 kilometers away from the Visayas but may enter PAR on Sunday.