Tropical storm “Ursula” is forecast to gradually intensify into a severe tropical storm before making landfall over Eastern Visayas Tuesday afternoon or evening.
As of 5 p.m. Monday, “Ursula” slightly intensified while moving west-northwestward toward Eastern Visayas.
The center of the storm was estimated at 670 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte.
Packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kms per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph, it was moving west-northwest at 30 kph.
Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 2 was raised over Eastern Samar (Guiuan).
Signal no. 1 remained in effect over Quezon, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Albay, Marinduque, Romblon, Sorsogon, Masbate, including Ticao and Burias Islands, the rest of Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Northern Cebu, Central Cebu, northeastern Bohol, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, northern Negros Occidental, northern Negros Oriental, Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte including Siargao Islands.
Light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains were expected over Quezon and the rest of Visayas, Bicol Region, and Surigao del Norte.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal number 1 is hoisted in these areas: Eastern Samar, Dinagat Islands insular municipalities of Surigao del Norte (Burgos, Sta. Monica, San Isidro, San Benito, Del Carmen, Pilar, Dapa, Gen. Luna, Socorro).
Metro Manila temperature ranges from 21-33 degrees Celsius; Tuguegarao City 21-30 degrees Celsius; Baguio City 15-24 degrees Celsius; SBMA 23-31 degrees Celsius; Lipa City 29-31 degrees; Metro Cebu 24-30 degrees Celsius; and Metro Davao 24-31 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air on Monday announced they were cancelling 18 domestic flights scheduled Tuesday due to the bad weather condition brought by “Ursula.”
Among the PAL affected flights were PR 2671 Clark – Calbayog, PR 2672 Calbayog – Clark, PR 2234 Cebu – Tacloban, PR 2235 Tacloban – Cebu, PR 2238 Cebu – Tacloban, PR 2239 Tacloban – Cebu, PR 2927 Cebu – Legazpi PR 2928 Legazpi – Cebu, PR 2382 Cebu – Siargao and PR 2383 Siargao – Cebu
“Affected passengers of the cancelled December 24 flights have been rebooked on the next available flights. Passengers with contact details on their Passenger Name Records will be notified on their new flight date through e-mail,¨said PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna.
The Cebu Pacific, on the other hand, cancelled eight flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to and from Tacloban.
All affected passengers are requested to check the e-mail address provided upon booking.
“We urge passengers on flights that have already been cancelled to check for updates via their emails and refrain from proceeding to the airport,” said CEB management in a statement. With Joel Zurbano and PNA
