'Urduja' slightly intensifies, heads for Samar Island

By Ma. Cristina Arayata

December 16, 2017, 9:16 am

MANILA -- Tropical Storm Urduja has slightly intensified and is expected to make landfall in Samar Island within the day, the state weather bureau said Saturday morning.

"Urduja" was last eyed at 180 km. east-northeast of Borongan City, eastern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 80 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph, moving west-northwest at 10 kph, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

PAGASA has raised tropical cyclone warning signal (TCWS) no. 2 in Sorsogon and Masbate, including Burias, Ticao Islands, northern Samar, eastern Samar, Biliran, and Leyte.

TCWS no. 1 was raised over southern Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, southern Leyte, Cebu, Capiz, Aklan, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, northern Negros Oriental, northern Bohol, and Dinagat Islands.

Sea travel is risky over the seaboards of areas under TCWS, added PAGASA.

Estimated rainfall amount, meanwhile, is from moderate to heavy within the 500-km. diameter of "Urduja".

"Urduja" was forecast to cause stormy weather over eastern Visayas, Sorsogon and Masbate. There might be serious flooding and landslides in these areas, warned PAGASA.

The rest of Bicol, Romblon, Marinduque, Cebu, Capiz, Aklan, Northern Iloilo, and Dinagat Islands are expected to experience rains with gusty winds.

Cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms may prevail over the rest of Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, Calabarzon, Mindoro, and Palawan

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will experience cloudy skies with scattered rains, while the rest of Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds will prevail over the entire archipelago, with moderate to rough seas, PAGASA said. (PNA)

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