MANILA – Tropical Cyclone Crising has intensified into a tropical storm, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center, and gustiness of up to 80 kph, the weather bureau said Friday.
As of 4 a.m., the cyclone was located 335 km. east of Echague, Isabela or 325 km. east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, moving northwestward at 20 kph.
Gale-force winds will prevail in areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2: Batanes, Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands, the northern and eastern portions of Isabela (Palanan, Ilagan City, Divilacan, Delfin Albano, Quezon, Tumauini, Maconacon, Santa Maria, Cabagan, San Pablo, Santo Tomas, San Mariano, and Dinapigue), Apayao, the northern portion of Kalinga (City of Tabuk, Balbalan, Pinukpuk, and Rizal), the northern portion of Abra (Malibcong, Lacub, Lagangilang, Licuan-Baay, Danglas, Lagayan, San Juan, Tineg, La Paz, and Dolores), Ilocos Norte, and the northern portion of Ilocos Sur (Cabugao and Sinait).
Areas under TCWS No. 1 will experience strong winds: the rest of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, the rest of Abra, Benguet, the rest of Ilocos Sur, La Union, the northern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Natividad, San Quintin, San Manuel, Tayug, Sison, San Fabian, Pozorrubio, Laoac, Binalonan, San Jacinto, Manaoag, Mangaldan, Dagupan City, Binmaley, Lingayen, Labrador, Sual, City of Alaminos, Bolinao, Anda, Bani, Agno, Burgos, Mabini, Dasol, Calasiao, Santa Barbara, Mapandan, and Bugallon), the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler, and Maria Aurora), the northeastern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan and Pantabangan), Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, and the northeastern portion Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Garchitorena, Lagonoy, San Jose, Presentacion, Tinambac, Siruma, and Goa).
The southwest monsoon, meanwhile, will also bring strong to gale-force gusts in Batangas, Quezon, the rest of the Bicol Region, Mimaropa, the Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, and Sarangani.
Up to very rough seas will prevail over the seaboards of Batanes, and the northern seaboards of Ilocos Norte and Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands.
"Sea travel is risky for all types or tonnage of vessels. All mariners must remain in port or, if underway, seek shelter or safe harbor as soon as possible until winds and waves subside," the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
Crising is forecast to bring heavy rainfall across Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Batanes, Ilocos Sur, Benguet, Kalinga, Abra, Quirino, La Union, Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, and Catanduanes.
The tropical storm could make landfall over mainland Cagayan or the Babuyan Islands Friday afternoon or evening, PAGASA said. (PNA)