Tropical Storm Crising continues to gain strength early Saturday morning as it moves northwest, steering clear of the Philippines, sources said. The storm’s current path and intensity keep eight areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2, while 11 other areas remain at Signal No. 1.
According to the latest bulletin issued at 2:00 a.m., Crising was last detected over the coastal waters of Calayan, Cagayan. It now carries maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph), up from 75 kph earlier, with gusts reaching 115 kph, an increase from 105 kph. The storm moves northwest at 15 kph.
“Crising will move west northwestward in the next 24 hours, traversing extreme Northern Luzon and may exit the Philippine area of responsibility today (Saturday),” local authorities noted. They also forecast that Crising is likely to strengthen further, potentially reaching Severe Tropical Storm status within the day.
Areas Still Under TCWS No. 2
Areas expecting gale-force winds of 62 to 88 kph within 24 hours include:
- Batanes
- Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands
- Ilocos Norte
- Apayao
- Northern Ilocos Sur (including municipalities such as Cabugao, Sinait, San Juan, and the City of Vigan)
- Northern Abra (covering towns like Manabo, San Juan, Bangued, and others)
- Kalinga
- Northern Isabela (areas such as Santo Tomas, Santa Maria, and Maconacon)
Regions Under TCWS Signal No. 1
Strong winds of 39 to 61 kph are expected within 36 hours in these areas:
- Quirino
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Remaining parts of Mountain Province and Ifugao
- Remaining Abra
- Benguet
- Remaining Ilocos Sur
- La Union
- Northern Pangasinan (including Dagupan City, San Fabian, and other municipalities)
- Northern Aurora (including Baler and Maria Aurora)
- Northeastern Nueva Ecija (Carranglan and Pantabangan)
Residents in affected areas are advised to stay alert and follow updates from local authorities. While the storm is moving away, strong winds and hazardous conditions may still affect vulnerable communities.
For more news and updates on Tropical Storm Crising, visit Filipinokami.com.
