MANILA – Tropical Depression (TD) Kristine has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility, the weather bureau said on Monday.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that Kristine has maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, with gusts reaching up to 70 kph. The storm was last located 1,050 km east of southeastern Luzon.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 has been raised over Catanduanes, the northeastern portion of Northern Samar (Laoang, Palapag, Mapanas, Gamay, Catubig, Lapinig), and the northeastern part of Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Arteche, San Policarpo, Oras). Strong winds are expected in these areas.
The tropical depression is also expected to bring strong to gale-force gusts over the southern portion of Palawan, Siquijor, Bohol, Zamboanga Peninsula, northern Mindanao, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Sarangani, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental.
Moderate to rough seas are forecast for the seaboards of Isabela, northern Aurora, Catanduanes, Northern Samar, Cagayan, Batanes, and Quezon, as well as parts of the Ilocos Region, Dinagat Islands, and Davao Region.
Mariners operating motor bancas and similarly-sized vessels are advised to take precautionary measures while at sea and avoid navigation in these conditions if possible.
Kristine is expected to intensify into a tropical storm within the next 12 hours and may make landfall over northern Luzon by Friday, according to PAGASA.
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