TS Crising nears Northern Cagayan; 10 areas under wind signal No. 2

Storm track of TS Crising.

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm Crising maintained its strength while approaching Northern Cagayan on Friday afternoon, said the state weather bureau, with Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 still up in 10 Luzon areas.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in its 5 p.m. typhoon bulletin, Crising was last spotted 135 kilometers (km) east of Aparri, Cagayan.

READ: LIVE UPDATES: Tropical Storm Crising | INQUIRER.net

It is currently carrying maximum sustained wind speeds of 75 km per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 105 kph while moving west northwestward at 20 kph.

Pagasa said that based on its forecast track, Crising may make landfall over the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan or Babuyan Islands by Friday evening.

“Afterwards, it will continue to move west-northwestward until it exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility by [Saturday] afternoon,” said Pagasa.

Crising is then expected to reach Severe Tropical Storm category by Saturday evening or Sunday morning.

Based on Pagasa’s 2 p.m. typhoon bulletin, 10 areas are still under TCWS No. 2 (gale-force 62 kph up to 88 kph in speed expected within 24 hours):

• Batanes
• Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
• Isabela
• Apayao
• Kalinga
• The northern and central portions of Abra (Manabo, Pidigan, San Juan, Tayum, Langiden, Boliney, Sallapadan, Bucloc, Lagangilang, Danglas, La Paz, Licuan-Baay, Tineg, Malibcong, Peñarrubia, San Isidro, Daguioman, San Quintin, Dolores, Lagayan, Bangued, Bucay, Lacub)
• The eastern portion of Mountain Province (Natonin, Paracelis)
• The eastern portion of Ifugao (Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista)
• Ilocos Norte, and
• The northern portion of Ilocos Sur (Cabugao, Sinait, Magsingal, San Juan, San Ildefonso, Santo Domingo, Bantay, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, Caoayan, City of Vigan, Santa)

The following areas, meanwhile, are under TCWS Signal No. 1 (strong winds 39 to 61 kph in speed expected within 36 hours):

• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• The rest of Mountain Province
• The rest of 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, Bugallon),
• The northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler, Maria Aurora), and
• The northeastern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Pantabangan) /mr