(UPDATED 8:40 PM)

Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami) surged out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday afternoon, but the low pressure area (LPA) spotted earlier is now a tropical storm and may intensify into a severe tropical storm on Sunday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 5 p.m. bulletin on Thursday (Oct. 25) that Kristine’s center was located 410 kilometers (km) west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur at 4 pm, maintaining maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center, with gusts reaching up to 115 kph.

However, Kristine at approximately 2 p.m. when it exited PAR still packed strong storm-force winds extending up to 580 km from its center, affecting a number of areas in Luzon.

Meanwhile, the LPA earlier spotted outside PAR has intensified into a tropical storm and was named Leon (international name Kong-rey), which according to PAGASA may intensify into a severe tropical storm on Sunday.

PAGASA earlier said that Leon can make Kristine loop back to the PAR, in what is called the “Fujiwara effect.”

The weather bureau said that due to the southwesterly wind flow triggered by both Kristine and Leon, strong to gale-force gusts are expected across Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Visayas, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Soccsargen, and Davao Region.

Also, PAGASA has maintained a gale warning for northern and western Luzon seaboards even with the lifting of all storm surge warnings.

Kristine is projected to continue its westward course over the West Philippine Sea until Saturday, with a possible counterclockwise loop expected Sunday and Monday outside PAR.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is still up in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, the northern portion of Rizal (Cainta, Rodriguez, San Mateo, City of Antipolo, Taytay), and the northern portion of Cavite (Ternate, Naic, Tanza, Rosario, Bacoor City, Kawit, Noveleta, Cavite City, City of General Trias, Imus City, Maragondon).

“The wind signals warn the public of the general wind threat over an area due to the tropical cyclone. Local winds may be slightly stronger/enhanced in coastal and upland/mountainous areas exposed to winds. Winds are less strong in areas sheltered from the prevailing wind direction,” PAGASA said.

“Minimal to minor impacts from strong winds are possible within any of the areas under Wind Signal No. 1,” it added.

(PHOTO FROM PNA)