11 areas under Signal No. 2 as ‘Ursula’ intensifies into severe tropical storm
Credit to Author: Divina Nova Joy Dela Cruz| Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2019 01:32:37 +0000
SIGNAL No. 2 was raised in 11 areas of the country as “Ursula” intensified into a severe tropical storm, the state-run weather bureau said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) last spotted Ursula at 315 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.
It was carrying maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph. It was moving west-northwest at a speed of 30 kph.
Areas under Signal No. 2 in Luzon are Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate, including Burias and Ticao Islands.
In the Visayas, Signal No. 2 is up over Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Biliran, extreme northern Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands (Bantayan, Madridejos, Santa Fe, Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remigio, Bogo City, Tabogon, Tabuelan, Borbon, San Francisco, Poro, Tudela, Pilar), northeastern Iloilo (Carles, Balasan, Estancia, Batad, San Dionisio, Sara, Concepcion), and northeastern Capiz (Pilar, President Roxas, Pontevedra, Panay)
Signal 1 is up over Bulacan, Bataan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Quezon, Laguna, Batangas, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Marinduque, Romblon, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island, Oriental Mindoro, Calamian Islands, and Cuyo Islands in Luzon;
Southern Leyte, the rest of northern Cebu (Carmen, Asturias, Tuburan, Catmon, Sogod), Central Cebu (Aloguinsan, Carcar City, Pinamungahan, San Fernando, Naga City, Toledo City, Minglanilla, Balamban, Talisay City, Cebu City, Cordova, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, Danao City), 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, the rest of Capiz, the rest of Iloilo, Guimaras, Northern Negros Occidental (Bacolod City, Bago City, Cadiz City, Calatrava, Enrique B. Magalona, Escalante City, La Carlota City, La Castellana, Manapla, Moises Padilla, Binalbagan, Hinigaran, Isabela, Murcia, Pontevedra,Pulupandan, Sagay City, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City, San Enrique, Silay City, Talisay City, Toboso, Valladolid, Victorias City), and northern Negros Oriental (Canlaon City, Guihulngan City, Jimalalud, La Libertad, Vallehermoso) in the Visayas;
Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte, including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands, in Mindanao.
Pagasa warned against damaging gale to storm-force winds in Eastern Visayas starting Tuesday afternoon; and in Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, and portions of Capiz, Iloilo, and northern Cebu starting Tuesday evening. Pagasa said these winds could bring light to moderate damage to high-risk structures and at most light damage to medium-risk structures.
Moderate to strong winds may also start affecting Northeastern Mindanao and Eastern Visayas in the morning or noon; and Bicol Region and portions of Central Visayas in the afternoon or evening.
On Christmas Day, moderate to strong winds may also affect Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), portions of Mimaropa (Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) and Western Visayas in the morning; and Metro Manila, Bulacan, and Bataan in the morning or afternoon. Pagasa said these winds could bring light damage to medium to high-risk structures.
On Tuesday, occasional to frequent heavy rains were expected over Dinagat Islands, Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands, Eastern Visayas, Sorsogon, Masbate, northern and central Cebu, northern Negros Provinces, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras and Romblon. Meanwhile, light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains could prevail over the rest of Bicol Region, Quezon, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, and the rest of Visayas and Surigao del Norte, Pagasa said.
Maritime activities were also suspended in areas with storm signals. Pagasa advised against sea travel for small boats over the eastern seaboards of the country and the inland waters of Southern Luzon and Visayas.
Pagasa weather specialist Ezra Bulquerin said Ursula could further intensify into a typhoon before making landfall over Eastern Samar on Tuesday afternoon or evening. DIVINA NOVA JOY DELA CRUZ