'Kristine' to make landfall over Isabela Wednesday night or Thursday morning

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm «Kristine» is forecast to make landfall over Isabela either Wednesday night or early Thursday morning, according to the state weather bureau.

Assistant Weather Services Chief Chris Perez of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that before making landfall, Kristine would likely intensify into a severe tropical storm.

Based on its 2 p.m. bulletin, the tropical storm was estimated some 160 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora while moving north-northwestward at 10 kilometers per hour (kph).

It has maximum sustained winds of 85kph near the center and gustiness of up to 105kph.

«Kristine has maintained its strength while over sea east of Aurora,» the Pagasa forecaster said.

The state-run weather agency said Signal No. 2 remained up over Metro Manila, and was also raised over Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, and the northeastern portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz and City of Sorsogon).

Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 is up over Batanes, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, including Lubang Islands, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Calamian Islands, the rest of Sorsogon, and Masbate, including Ticao and Burias Islands in Luzon.

The weather agency said Signal No. 1 was raised over Aklan, Capiz, Antique including Caluya Islands, Iloilo, Guimaras, the northern portion of Negros Occidental (Pontevedra, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Bago City, La Carlota City, Valladolid, Pulupandan, Bacolod City, San Enrique, Murcia, Silay City, City of Talisay, Enrique B. Magalona, Manapla, City of Victorias, Cadiz City, Sagay City, City of Escalante, Toboso, Calatrava, Salvador Benedicto and San Carlos City), the northern portion of Negros Oriental (Vallehermoso, Canlaon City and City of Guihulngan), the northern and central portions of Cebu (Alcantara, Argao, Dumanjug, Sibonga,