Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine” is seen exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday, as it was spotted over the coastal waters of Ilocos Sur as of Thursday afternoon.

However, a low pressure area outside the PAR is likely to develop into a tropical cyclone, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Also, PAGASA issued heavy rain warnings for parts of Luzon, alerting the public to take precautions or take action if needed.

The weather bureau said that Kristine is forecast to move westward or west northwestward over the West Philippine Sea and exit PAR on Friday.

As of 4 p.m. on Thursday, Kristine was spotted over the coastal waters of Santa Lucia, Ilocos Sur with maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, and gustiness of up to 145 kph.

Storm-force winds will be experienced in Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan, all under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) no. 3.
On the other hand, gale-force winds will prevail in areas under TCWS no. 2- Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, and Bulacan.

Strong winds will prevail in areas where TCWS no. 1 is hoisted which include Batanes, Metro Manila, Rizal, Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, Quezon, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, the northern portion of mainland Palawan (El Nido, Taytay, Araceli, San Vicente, Dumaran, Roxas) including Calamian Islands, Cuyo, and, Kalayaan Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Aklan, Capiz, Antique including Caluya Islands, Iloilo, Bantayan Islands, Northern Samar, the northern portion of Samar (Calbayog City, Almagro, Tagapul-An, Santo Nino).

“There is a minimal to moderate risk of storm surge with peak heights of around 1 to 2 meters above normal tide levels in the next 48 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, and Zambales,” PAGASA said.

Gale warning is hoisted over the seaboards of Luzon and the western and central seaboards of the Visayas. Sea travel is risky for all types or tonnage of vessels.

Meanwhile, PAGASA said a low pressure area was last tracked about 2,455 kilometers east of northeastern Mindanao, outside PAR, and can become a cyclone within 24 hours.

FLOOD WARNING

PAGASA issued the following heavy rainfall warning as of late Thursday:

RED WARNING LEVEL: Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Metro Manila, Rizal and Quezon(Tiaong, San Antonio, Candelaria, Dolores, Sariaya, Tayabas, Lucban, Lucena).

ASSOCIATED HAZARD: Serious FLOODING in flood-prone areas.

ORANGE WARNING LEVEL: Zambales, Bataan and Quezon(Infanta, Real, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Pagbilao, Mauban, Sampaloc, Polillo, Burdeos, Panukulan, Patnanungan, Jomalig, General Nakar, Perez, Alabat, Quezon).

ASSOCIATED HAZARD: FLOODING is still THREATENING.

YELLOW WARNING LEVEL: Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Quezon(Calauag, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Pitogo, Unisan, Agdangan, Plaridel, Gumaca, Lopez, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, Mulanay, Buenavista, San Andres, San Francisco, San Narciso).

ASSOCIATED HAZARD: FLOODING in flood-prone areas.

(PHOTO FROM PNA)