#KRISTINE PH WILL INTENSIFY AS TYPHOON, HIGHEST TCWS NO.4 TO BE RAISED

The low pressure area being monitored outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) has developed into tropical depression has entered PAR at 12 am on Monday, October 21 with the local name Kristine, according to the state weather bureau.

Kristine is the country’s 11th tropical cyclone for 2024 and the first tropical cyclone to have either entered or formed within PAR in October. 

Tropical depression Kristine is still over the Philippine Sea, further intensification is likely according to the state weather service (Photo courtesy of DOST-PAGASA)

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Kristine was located 1,050 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon and is moving west southwest, maintaining a relatively fast speed of 30 kilometers per hour (km/h). Continues to have maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h and gustiness of up to 70 km/h.

PAGASA forecasted that the tropical depression is already bringing moderate to heavy rain to parts of the eastern Philippines on Monday with associated hazardous floods and landslides.

On Monday, it will bring moderate to heavy rain in the areas of Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and Quezon. A yellow warning was issued due to Kristine in Laguna and Quezon, light to moderate rains over Bulacan, Metro Manila, Batangas and Cavite is expected. Light to moderate rains affecting Rizal with possible flooding in flood-prone areas.

The rest of the country may have isolated rain showers or thunderstorms because of Kristine’s trough. The highest tropical cyclone wind signal due to Kristine could be Signal No. 4. Kristine is projected to keep moving generally west until Tuesday morning before turning west northwest to northwest beginning Tuesday afternoon.

Signal No. 1 was raised in Catanduanes, northeastern part of Northern Samar (Laoang, Palapag, Mapanas, Gamay, Catubig, Lapinig), and northeastern part of Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Arteche, San Policarpo, Oras) which means they will have strong winds from Kristine in 36 hours.

Several local government units in Luzon have announced suspension of classes in all levels public and private on Monday, October 21, due to the effects of Tropical Depression Kristine. 

The tropical depression might strengthen into a tropical storm within 12 hours; a severe tropical storm by Tuesday afternoon or evening, October 22; and a typhoon by Thursday afternoon or evening, October 24. It could make landfall in Northern Luzon as a typhoon by Friday afternoon, October 25.

Source: ABS-CBN News

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