Metro Manila now under Signal No. 2 as 'Kristine' accelerates — Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — Signal No. 2 has been raised over more Luzon areas, including Metro Manila as Tropical Storm «Kristine» accelerates slightly while maintaining its strength over the sea east of Aurora, the state weather bureau said on Wednesday.

Assistant Weather Services Chief Chris Perez of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in a press briefing that Kristine was last spotted some 200 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora or 255kms east of Baler, Aurora.

«It has slightly accelerated while maintaining its strength over the sea east of Aurora,» he said.

Moving north-northwestward at 30 kilometers per hour (kph), the tropical storm has maximum sustained winds of 85kph near the center and gustiness of up to 105kph.

The Pagasa forecaster said that aside from Metro Manila, Signal No. 2 was 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 is up 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, Pinamungahan, Ronda,