Tropical Depression Verbena may reach a severe tropical storm at its peak, but only once when its center goes out of the country’s landmass, state meteorologists said on Monday.
‘Verbena may peak at severe tropical storm category while in the middle of the West Philippine Sea, north of Kalayaan Islands,’ said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa). in its 11:00 p.m. report.
Verbena is also likely to cross Visayas only as a tropical depression, before it could reach tropical storm category, either before reaching northern Palawan or once over the West Philippine Sea.
But to date, Verbena remains a tropical depression packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center, gustiness of up to 75 km/h.
The tropical depression was last spotted over the coastal waters of Anda, Bohol, and made its first landfall at Bayabas town in Surigao del Sur.
Also, Pagasa hoisted Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 (winds of 39 to 61 km/h with minimal to minor threat to life and property) across parts of Luzon, the entire Visayas, and parts of Mindanao:
Luzon: Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, the northern and central portions of Palawan (Araceli, Taytay, El Nido, Dumaran, Roxas, San Vicente, Puerto Princesa City) including Calamian, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo Islands, and mainland Masbate Balud, Mandaon, Milagros, Cawayan, Placer, Pio V. Corpuz, Esperanza, Uson, Dimasalang, City of Masbate, Mobo, Palanas, Aroroy, Cataingan, Baleno)
Visayas: Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Cebu, Bohol, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, Leyte, and Southern Leyte
Mindanao: Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, the northern portion of Bukidnon (Baungon, Libona, Manolo Fortich, Sumilao, Impasug-Ong, City of Malaybalay, Malitbog, Cabanglasan), the northern portion of Misamis Occidental (Sapang Dalaga, Calamba, Baliangao, Plaridel, Lopez Jaena, Oroquieta City, Aloran, Panaon, Jimenez, Concepcion), and the northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte (Jose Dalman, Manukan, Pres. Manuel A. Roxas, Katipunan, Dipolog City, Polanco, Piñan, Dapitan City, La Libertad, Sibutad, Rizal, Mutia).