Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami) is already 535 kilometers west of Bacnotan, La Union, as of 10 pm on Friday, October 25
MANILA, Philippines – There were no more areas under a tropical cyclone wind signal due to Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami) as of 11 pm on Friday, October 25, but its trough or extension, along with the southwesterly windflow, will still trigger rain.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said scattered rain and thunderstorms are expected in the western section of Luzon and most parts of the Visayas and Mindanao on Saturday, October 26.
Kristine, which left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at 2 pm on Friday, was already 535 kilometers west of Bacnotan, La Union, as of 10 pm.
The severe tropical storm is moving west southwest over the West Philippine Sea at a slightly slower 25 kilometers per hour from the previous 30 km/h.
It still has maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h and gustiness of up to 115 km/h.
While all wind signals are now lifted, PAGASA said the southwesterly windflow triggered by both Kristine and Tropical Storm Kong-rey — the tropical cyclone outside PAR — will bring strong to gale-force gusts to these areas:
Saturday, October 26
- Palawan, Romblon, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Siquijor, Bohol, Southern Leyte, Zamboanga del Norte, Camiguin, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte
Sunday, October 27
- Palawan, Romblon, Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Camiguin, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte
Meanwhile, due to Kristine, up to very rough seas are still expected in the seaboards of Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, and Bataan (waves up to 4.5 meters high). Travel is risky for all vessels.
Up to rough seas are seen in the seaboards of Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and Ilocos Norte, as well as the western seaboards of Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, and northern Palawan (waves up to 4 meters high); and the seaboards of mainland Cagayan and Isabela (waves up to 3.5 meters high). Small vessels should not venture out to sea.
Up to moderate seas will persist in the remaining seaboards of Luzon and the Visayas (waves up to 2.5 meters high). Small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible.
Kristine, which entered PAR as a tropical depression last Monday, October 21, was the country’s 11th tropical cyclone for 2024 and the first for October. It affected practically the entire Luzon and Visayas, and even parts of Mindanao.
Even before hitting land, Kristine already brought moderate to torrential rain, causing widespread flooding, especially in Bicol. For winds, Signal No. 3 was the highest tropical cyclone wind signal raised.
The severe tropical storm made landfall in Divilacan, Isabela, on Thursday, October 24, then crossed Ifugao, Mountain Province, and Ilocos Sur on the same day. It exited the landmass of Luzon through Ilocos Sur, but continued to unleash rain and winds.
Weather conditions in Luzon finally began improving only on Friday as Kristine moved away.
PAGASA sees Kristine generally moving west — or away from PAR — over the West Philippine Sea until Saturday. During this time, it may gradually intensify, and typhoon status is not being ruled out. But there could also be a weakening trend by early next week due to a “possible surge” of the northeasterly windflow.
Reentry into PAR remains a possibility for Kristine because it could make a U-turn or a loop counterclockwise from Sunday, October 27, to Monday, October 28. Following this U-turn, it may head east — or toward PAR.
“However, this scenario heavily depends on the behavior of [Kong-rey]…and the behavior of other synoptic weather systems surrounding Kristine while over the West Philippine Sea,” PAGASA said.
Kong-rey was last spotted 1,980 kilometers east of Central Luzon or 1,780 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon at 10 pm on Friday, moving west northwest at a slower 25 km/h from the previous 35 km/h.
It continues to have maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h and gustiness of up to 80 km/h.
PAGASA now expects Kong-rey to enter PAR either Saturday evening or early Sunday morning. It would be given the local name Leon.
The potential Leon is seen to remain far from Philippine landmass, although its track “may still shift within the limit of the forecast confidence cone.”
It is also projected to gradually intensify and may strengthen into a severe tropical storm on Sunday and a typhoon on Monday.
“Depending on how close it will be during its recurvature over the Philippine Sea, the outer rainbands of Kong-rey may also affect extreme Northern Luzon,” PAGASA said.
“Furthermore, it may also continue to influence the southwesterly windflow initially triggered by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, which may affect the western section of Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao in the coming days.”
The weather bureau added that Kong-rey may cause moderate to rough seas in the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon and the eastern seaboard of the Visayas as it approaches. – Rappler.com
