Cyclone 'Kristine': Signal No. 1 issued for 15 areas nationwide

MANILA, Philippines — State weather bureau PAGASA raised Signal No. 1 by midday across the country due to anticipated effects of tropical cyclone "Kristine," which entered the Philippine area of responsibility on early Monday morning.

As of 11 a.m., the eye of Tropical Depression Kristine was located approximately 870 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas. 

Moving west-southwest at a speed of 30 kilometers per hour (kph), the storm has maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near its center and gustiness reaching up to 70 kph.

PAGASA has raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals No. 1 over the following areas: 

The state weather bureau has advised households to implement precautionary measures, such as making necessary repairs, cleaning drainage systems, and harvesting crops.

PAGASA anticipates that Kristine will strengthen into a tropical storm within the next 12 hours and may escalate to a severe tropical storm by Wednesday, October 23.

The storm could further intensify into a typhoon by Thursday evening, October 24, or Friday morning, October 25, just before making landfall in the northeastern regions of Cagayan.