PAGASA: Storm to loop over WPS, could head back to PH
Severe tropical storm “Kristine” battered parts of northern Luzon yesterday as it moved over the waters of Santa Lucia in Ilocos Sur, the state weather bureau said, warning the weather disturbance may reintensify and loop over the West Philippine Sea until Monday and may move back to the direction of the Philippines.
The provinces of Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan remained under Signal No. 3 with schools and government offices shuttered as the storm paved a trail of destruction from the Bicol region going north.
“’Kristine’ is forecast to re-intensify as it moves over the West Philippine Sea. While it is likely that the tropical cyclone will remain a severe tropical storm in the next five days, the chance for it to be upgraded into a typhoon is not ruled out,” PAGASA said.
“There is a developing forecast situation wherein ‘Kristine’ will be looping over the West Philippine Sea on Sunday and Monday and move eastward or east northwestward towards the general direction of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) region. However, this scenario heavily depends on the behavior of the weather disturbance east of the PAR region, which is expected to develop into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours,” the state weather bureau said.
PAGASA said the low pressure area east of Mindanao would likely develop into a tropical depression today.
“Within the next 24 hours, there is a high probability the LPA will develop into a tropical depression or a weak storm, but within the next three days it will remain far from our landmass and we do not expect it to have a direct impact,” state weather specialist Benison Estareja said.
Aside from provinces in northern Luzon, Batangas also felt the brunt of “Kristine,” with a hospital in Lemery forced to halt admissions amid flooded wards and emergency rooms.
“The rain is not stopping, so the floods are going up fast. We have received countless reports asking for rescue,” Batangas province rescue official April Serrano said.
In Metro Manila, at least 4,102 individuals or 1,022 families in Quezon City stayed in 20 evacuation centers as of Thursday noon.
QC Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council spokesperson Peachy de Leon said the city government evacuated residents from high-risk areas as early as Wednesday.
Residents who were forced to wade in floods were also given free doxycycline to prevent risks of being infected with leptospirosis.
