Tropical depression Crising may intensify into a tropical storm today, July 17, Thursday, while over the sea east of Luzon, and develop into a severe tropical storm (STS) before or just as the cyclone makes landfall, possibly Friday evening, said the state weather bureau.
As of 11 a.m., the eye of the cyclone was detected at 470 kilometers east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, with wind speeds at 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and a gustiness of up to 70 kph. It is heading north-northwest at a rather swift rate of 25 kph, according to weather specialist Benison Estareja of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
The tropical depression is 600 km in diameter, and its effects are felt in the eastern portion of Luzon and Visayas. PAGASA forecasts that within the next 24 hours, it will remain over the Philippine Sea east of Luzon and will be 350 km east of Cagayan Friday morning.
It is expected to begin its passage over a large portion of Northern Luzon on Friday, the eye of the cyclone entering mainland Cagayan and proceeding into Apayao and Ilocos Norte.
Taking Crising’s 600-km diameter into account, it is also forecast to affect a part of Catanduanes, Aurora, and other parts of Northern Luzon in the next two to three days.
Come Sunday morning, Crising will have crossed over to the West Philippine Sea and out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at around 440 km West of Calayan in Cagayan, moving towards Southern China early next week.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1, which indicates strong winds that pose a minimal to minor threat to life and property, has been raised over the following areas:
- Southern Batanes (Sabtang, Ivana, Uyugan, Mahatao, Basco)
- Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands
- Isabela
- Quirino
- Northeastern Nueva Viscaya (Kasibu, Quezon, Bagabag, Diadi, Bayombong, Solano, Ambaguio, Villaverde)
- Northern Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao)
- Apayao
- Abra
- Kalinga
- Mountain Province
- Ifugao
- Ilocos Norte
- Northern Ilocos Sur (Vigan, Santa, Caoayan, Bantay, Nagbukel, Narvacan, Cabugao, San Juan, Sinait, Magsingal, San Ildefonso, Santo Domingo, San Vicente, Santa Catalina)
- Northern and eastern Catanduanes (Pandan, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Gigmoto)
The highest possible wind signal forecasted for Crising is Signal No. 3.
Furthermore, Crising is accompanied by a southwest monsoon or “habagat,” which also brings heavy rainfall. On Thursday, it will bring gale-force gusts over the following areas, particularly in coastal and upland places exposed to winds:
- Batangas
- Quezon
- Bicol Region
- MIMAROPA
- Visayas
- Zamboanga del Norte
- Camiguin
- Surigao del Norte
- Dinagat Islands
- Davao Occidental
- Davao Oriental
- Sarangani
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has raised a blue alert for Crising, “in preparation for a slow onset hazard event or in anticipation of situation escalation.”
