MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami) slowed down considerably early Wednesday afternoon, October 23, as it continued to move over the sea east of Aurora.
Kristine was last spotted 155 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora, at 1 pm on Wednesday. It is heading northwest at only 10 kilometers per hour, after earlier accelerating at a speed of 30 km/h.
The tropical storm maintained its strength, with maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h and gustiness of up to 105 km/h.
But the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Kristine is still expected to intensify into a severe tropical storm on Wednesday.
At its current pace, Kristine could make landfall in Isabela either Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning, October 24.
Afterwards, Kristine is projected to cross Northern Luzon’s mountainous terrain, where it might slightly weaken, then emerge over the waters west of the Ilocos Region on Thursday morning.
“Re-intensification may occur over the West Philippine Sea,” added PAGASA.
Rainfall warnings remain in effect for much of Luzon, including flood-hit Bicol, where rescuers were overwhelmed due to the scale of Kristine’s impact.
Wednesday, October 23
- Intense to torrential rain (more than 200 millimeters): Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Aurora, Quezon, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Camarines Sur, rest of Cagayan Valley, rest of Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Rizal
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): rest of Central Luzon, rest of Calabarzon, Metro Manila, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Calamian Islands, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Northern Samar
Thursday, October 24
- Intense to torrential rain (more than 200 mm): Pangasinan, Zambales, La Union
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): rest of Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Bataan
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Tarlac, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro
Friday, October 25
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Pangasinan, Zambales, La Union
As of 2 pm on Wednesday, the same areas are still under tropical cyclone wind signals:
Signal No. 2
Gale-force winds (62 to 88 km/h), minor to moderate threat to life and property
- Ilocos Norte
- Ilocos Sur
- La Union
- Pangasinan
- Apayao
- Abra
- Kalinga
- Mountain Province
- Ifugao
- Benguet
- Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
- Isabela
- Quirino
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Aurora
- Nueva Ecija
- Bulacan
- Tarlac
- Pampanga
- Zambales
- Bataan
- Metro Manila
- Cavite
- Laguna
- Rizal
- Quezon including Polillo Islands
- Camarines Norte
- Camarines Sur
- Catanduanes
- Albay
- northeastern part of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon City)
Signal No. 1
Strong winds (39 to 61 km/h), minimal to minor threat to life and property
- Batanes
- Batangas
- Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands
- Oriental Mindoro
- Marinduque
- Romblon
- Calamian Islands
- rest of Sorsogon
- Masbate including Ticao Island and Burias Island
- Aklan
- Capiz
- Antique including Caluya Islands
- Iloilo
- Guimaras
- northern part of Negros Occidental (Pontevedra, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Bago City, La Carlota City, Valladolid, Pulupandan, Bacolod City, San Enrique, Murcia, Silay City, Talisay City, Enrique B. Magalona, Manapla, Victorias City, Cadiz City, Sagay City, Escalante City, Toboso, Calatrava, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City)
- northern part of Negros Oriental (Vallehermoso, Canlaon City, Guihulngan City)
- northern and central parts of Cebu (Alcantara, Argao, Dumanjug, Sibonga, Pinamungahan, Ronda, Liloan, Cebu City, Moalboal, Consolacion, Danao City, Borbon, Carmen, Daanbantayan, Tuburan, Bogo City, Tabogon, Naga City, Lapu-Lapu City, Carcar City, Mandaue City, Catmon, Minglanilla, Toledo City, Cordova, Compostela, San Remigio, Balamban, Aloguinsan, San Fernando, Asturias, Barili, Medellin, Sogod, Tabuelan, Talisay City) including Bantayan Islands and Camotes Islands
- Bohol
- Eastern Samar
- Northern Samar
- Samar
- Leyte
- Biliran
- Southern Leyte
- Dinagat Islands
- Surigao del Norte including Siargao-Bucas Grande Group
The highest tropical cyclone wind signal due to Kristine could be Signal No. 3.
“The wind flow coming towards the circulation” of the tropical storm and the northeasterly windflow are also bringing strong to gale-force gusts to these areas:
Wednesday, October 23
- Mimaropa, Visayas, Mindanao
Thursday, October 24
- Mimaropa, Bicol, Visayas, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Northern Mindanao, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental
Friday, October 25
- Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Negros Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi
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In addition, there is a moderate to significant risk of “life-threatening” storm surges in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Isabela, Zambales, Aurora, and Quezon in the next 48 hours.
For coastal waters in the next 24 hours, PAGASA said up to high seas are expected in the seaboards of Cagayan Valley, the Ilocos Region, and Zambales (waves up to 8 meters high); and seaboards of Aurora, Polillo Islands, and Camarines Norte, as well as northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes, northern seaboard of Camarines Sur, and western seaboard of Bataan (waves up to 6 meters high). Travel is risky for all vessels.
Up to very rough seas are expected in the western seaboard of Batangas and seaboard of Lubang Islands (waves up to 5 meters high), as well as western seaboard of Cavite, Occidental Mindoro, and Calamian Islands; eastern seaboard of Camarines Sur, Albay, and Sorsogon; and northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar (waves up to 4.5 meters high). Travel is likewise risky for all vessels.
Up to rough seas are seen in the seaboard of Cuyo Islands as well as western seaboard of Western Visayas, Negros Occidental, and Negros Oriental (waves up to 4 meters high); remaining seaboards of Luzon and the Visayas (waves up to 3.5 meters high); and seaboard of Dinagat Islands, Camiguin, and Zamboanga del Norte, as well as northern and western seaboards of Surigao del Norte (waves up to 3 meters high). Small vessels should not venture out to sea.
Up to moderate seas will persist in the remaining seaboards of Mindanao (waves up to 2.5 meters high). Small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible.
Kristine is the country’s 11th tropical cyclone for 2024 and the first for October. It may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday, October 25. – Rappler.com