Signal No. 2 up in Eastern Visayas as ‘Ursula’ makes landfall on Christmas Eve
Credit to Author: Divina Nova Joy Dela Cruz| Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2019 14:10:55 +0000
TROPICAL storm “Ursula” (international name: Phanfone) may intensify further on Tuesday, as it approaches Eastern Samar, prompting the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) to raise Signal No.2 in the province.
Nine areas in Southern Luzon, 16 in the Visayas and 2 in Mindanao are under Signal No. 1 as Ursula was spotted 670 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao Del Norte, packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph. It slightly gained speed at 30 kph as it moved northwest.
Guiuan in Eastern Samar is at Signal No. 2 as Pagasa warned of “damaging winds” in the area by Tuesday afternoon.
Signal No. 1 was raised over Quezon (Buenavista, Calauag, Catanauan, General Luna, Guinayangan, Lopez, Macalelon, Mulanay, San Andres, San Francisco, San Narciso, Tagkawayan), Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Albay, Marinduque, Romblon, Sorsogon, Masbate, including Ticao and Burias Islands.
In the Visayas, areas under Signal No. 1 are the rest of Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Northern Cebu (Carmen, Asturias, Tuburan, Catmon, Sogod, Borbon, Tabuelan, Tabogon, San Remigio, Bogo, Medellin, Daanbantayan, Bantayan Islands, Camotes Islands), Central Cebu (Aloguinsan, Carcar, Pinamungahan, San Fernando, Naga, Toledo, Minglanila, Balamban, Talisay, Cebu City, Cordova, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, Danao), northeastern Bohol (Inabanga, Danao, Dagohoy, Pilar, Guindulman, Anda, Candijay, Alicia, Buenavista, Jetafe, Talibon, Trinidad, Bien Unido, San Miguel, Ubay, Mabini, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia), Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, northern Negros Occidental (Bacolod, Bago, Cadiz, Calatrava, Enrique B. Magalona, Escalante, La Carlota, La Castellana, Manapla, Moises Padilla, Binalbagan, Hinigaran, Isabela, Murcia, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, Sagay, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos, San Enrique, Silay, Talisay, Toboso, Valladolid, Victorias), and northern Negros Oriental (Canlaon, Guihulngan, Jimalaud, La Libertad, Vallehermoso).
In Mindanao, areas under Signal No. 1 are Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte, including Siargao Islands.
Strong winds could be experienced in areas under Signal No. 1. Medium to high-risk structures may suffer light damage, Pagasa said.
Maritime activities were also suspended in areas with storm signals. Pagasa advised against sea travel for small boats in the northern and eastern seaboards of the Bicol Region and the eastern seaboards of Eastern Visayas and Caraga Region with rough to very rough seas expected starting Monday evening.
Moderate to heavy rains over Dinagat Islands, Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands, Eastern Visayas, Romblon, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, and the northern portions of Cebu and Negros Occidental may be experienced by Tuesday afternoon. Light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains may be experienced over the Bicol Region, Quezon, Marinduque and the rest of Visayas and Surigao del Norte, Pagasa said.
Pagasa weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said Ursula may intensify into a severe tropical storm before it makes landfall over Eastern Visayas on Tuesday, Christmas Eve, and was expected to cross Central Visayas on Christmas Day.
Ursula entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday morning. Ursula, the 21st tropical cyclone to enter the country this year, was expected exit the PAR by Saturday.