(UPDATED 10AM)

Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine” maintained its strength as it accelerated over the sea west of northern Luzon to start exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

So far, the storm has left at least 20 dead with at around 2 million people affected or displaced, of which 1.67 million are from the Bicol region.

However, there is a possibility it would loop back to the PAR depending on how a new low pressure area (LPA) develops.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said as of 5 a.m. of Friday, the center of the eye of Kristine was estimated at 125 kilometers (km) west northwest of Bacnotan, La Union.

It is forecast to move west northwestward to westward over the next 48 hours and exit the PAR this afternoon.

The weather bureau said there is a possibility that Kristine might loop back to the PAR and dump rains anew in parts of the country. PAGASA earlier said this can possibly happen over the weekend.

“In the extended outlook, there is a developing forecast situation wherein Kristine will be looping over the West Philippine Sea on Sunday and Monday and move generally eastward towards the general direction of the PAR region. However, this scenario heavily depends on the behavior of the tropical cyclone east of the PAR region,” PAGASA said in its bulletin.

Also, Kristine is forecast to undergo a short period of intensification as it moves over the West Philippine Sea.

“While it is likely that the tropical cyclone will remain a severe tropical storm in the next five days, the chance for it to be upgraded into a typhoon is not ruled out,” the bulletin read.

Meanwhile, the new tropical depression spotted a few days back was still outside the PAR early Friday morning, PAGASA said.

“Additionally, a low pressure area (LPA 10e) is being monitored within the PAGASA monitoring domain. The potential for LPA (10e) to develop into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours still remains LOW,” it said.

On Friday, a moderate to heavy rainfall outlook is forecast in the provinces of Pangasinan, La Union, Benguet, Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales, and Bataan.
PAGASA said under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are likely, especially in areas susceptible to these hazards.

AREAS UNDER TROPICAL WIND SIGNALS

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 (TCWS) is hoisted in Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, the northern portion of Cavite (Ternate, Maragondon, Naic, Tanza, City of General Trias, Rosario, Cavite City, Noveleta, Kawit, Imus City, Bacoor City), the northern portion of Rizal (Cainta, Taytay, Angono, San Mateo, Rodriguez, Tanay, City of Antipolo, Baras, Teresa, Morong), and the northern portion of mainland Quezon (General Nakar)

TCWS No. 1 is up in Batanes, the rest of Rizal, the rest of Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, the rest of Quezon including Polillo Islands, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, the northern portion of mainland Palawan (El Nido, Taytay, Araceli, Dumaran, San Vicente) including Calamian, Cuyo, and, Kalayaan Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, the northern and central portions of Sorsogon (Castilla, Magallanes, Pilar, Casiguran, Donsol, Juban, Gubat, City of Sorsogon, Prieto Diaz, Bulan), and the northern and central portions of Masbate (City of Masbate, Uson, Dimasalang, Mobo, Cawayan, Aroroy, Balud, Mandaon, Milagros, Baleno) including Ticao and Burias Islands; (Visayas) Aklan, Capiz, Antique including Caluya Islands, Iloilo, Bantayan Islands, the western portion of Northern Samar (Rosario, Biri, San Isidro, Capul, San Vicente, Victoria, Lavezares, San Antonio, San Jose, Allen, Bobon), and the northern portion of Samar (Tagapul-An).

(PHOTO FROM PNA)