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.
According to Philippines News Agency, gale-force winds will prevail in areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2, including Batanes, Cagayan, the Babuyan Islands, and the northern and eastern portions of Isabela. Other affected areas include Apayao, the northern portion of Kalinga, the northern portion of Abra, Ilocos Norte, and the northern portion of Ilocos Sur. Areas under TCWS No. 1, such as the rest of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, and several others, will experience strong winds.
The southwest monsoon will bring strong to gale-force gusts in additional regions, impacting Batangas, Quezon, the rest of the Bicol Region, Mimaropa, the Visayas, and parts of Mindanao. Sea conditions are expected to be very rough over the seaboards of Batanes and the northern seaboards of Ilocos Norte and Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands. PAGASA has warned that sea travel is risky for all types of vessels and advised mariners to remain in port or seek safe harbor.
Crising is forecast to bring heavy rainfall across various provinces, including Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, and others. The tropical storm could make landfall over mainland Cagayan or the Babuyan Islands Friday afternoon or evening, PAGASA said.
