STORM signal number 2 has been hoisted over three areas in the Visayas as Tropical Depression “Jolina” intensified into a tropical storm at 2 p.m. Monday, September 6, as it moved west northward over the Philippine Sea.
As of 4 p.m. Monday, the center of Jolina was located 95 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.
It was packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center, with gusts of up to 90 km/h.
Jolina was moving westward northwestward at 20 km/h, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 2 was hoisted over Eastern Samar, the eastern portion of Northern Samar and the northeastern portion of Samar, where gale-force winds are expected.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 1 was hoisted over the eastern portion of Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay and Sorsogon in Luzon; Biliran, the eastern portion of Leyte, the eastern portion of Southern Leyte, the rest of Samar and the rest of Northern Samar in the Visayas; and Dinagat Islands, Siargao Islands and Bucas Grande Islands in Mindanao.
Pagasa said in its 5 p.m. weather bulletin that Jolina is expected to move northwestward parallel to the east coast of the country until it makes landfall over the Northern-Central Luzon area by Thursday morning, Sept. 9.
Before getting there, though, it could slightly intensify as it moves over the Philippine Sea and reach a peak intensity of 85 km/h on Wednesday, Sept. 8.
Jolina may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Friday morning, Sept. 10.
In the next 24 hours, though, Jolina may bring moderate to heavy rains, at times intense rains, over Northern Samar, Eastern Samar and Sorsogon, while it may bring moderate to heavy rains over Bicol Region and the rest of the Visayas, Pagasa said.
It warned of isolated to scattered flash flooding and rain-induced landslides in susceptible areas.
The tropical storm may also bring moderate to rough seas (1.2 to 2.8 meters) over the eastern seaboards of the Visayas and Mindanao. Inexperienced mariners were advised against sailing, while more experienced mariners of small seacraft were advised to take precautions when venturing out to sea. (CTL)