Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 is hoisted over 11 areas in Luzon and Visayas as Tropical Depression Verbana approaches Cuyo Islands on Tuesday afternoon before its expected landfall over the northern Palawan, according to the state weather bureau.
In its 2 p.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Verbena was last spotted over the coastal waters of Magsaysay, Palawan as of 1 p.m.
Pagasa noted that Verbena ‘will move northwestward over Sulu Sea, pass near or over Cuyo Islands this afternoon before making a landfall over the northern portion of Palawan tonight.’
Pagasa raised TCWS No. 1 over the following areas, with wind speeds ranging from 39 to 61 kilometers per hour (kph), which will potentially bring ‘minimal to minor threat to life and property:’
Luzon
Occidental Mindoro
Oriental Mindoro
Romblon
Northern and central portions of Palawan (Araceli, Taytay, El Nido, Dumaran, Roxas, San Vicente, Puerto Princesa City) including Calamian, Cuyo and Cagayancillo Islands
Mainland Masbate (Balud, Mandaon, Milagros, Cawayan, Placer, Pio V. Corpuz, Esperanza, Uson, Dimasalang, Masbate City, Mbo, Palanas, Aroroy, Cataingan, Baleno)
Visayas
Antique
Aklan
Capiz
Iloilo
Guimaras
Western portion of Negros Occidental (Himamaylan City, Binalbagan, Isabela, Hinigaran, Pontevedra, La Carlota City, Moises Padilla, La Castellana, Valladolid, San Enrique, Bago City, Pulupandan, Bacolod City, Talisay City, Silay City, Enrique B. Magalona, Victorias City, Manapla, Ilog, Kabankalan City, Cauayan, Sipalay City, Candoni, Hinoba-An)
Aside from this, a gale warning was up over the seaboards of Northern Luzon.
Meanwhile, Verbana is carrying a maximum wind speed of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 70 kph while it is moving westward at 35 kph.
Pagasa maintained that Verbena may intensify into a tropical storm near the northern portion of Palawan within the next 12 hours.
It added that further intensification is ‘likely’ once it reaches the West Philippine Sea (WPS).