Tropical Depression Verbena is forecast to make landfall over the northern portion of Palawan on Tuesday night as it is tracked to move over Sulu Sea and Cuyo Islands, according to the state weather bureau.
In its 11 a.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that Verbena was located over the coastal waters of Hamtic, Antique as of 10 a.m.
It was carrying maximum wind speed of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 90 kph. It was moving west northwest at 35 kph.
‘On the track forecast, Verbena will move west northwestward over Sulu Sea, pass near or over Cuyo Islands this afternoon before making landfall over the northern portion of Palawan tonight,’ Pagasa said.
Verbena may develop into a tropical storm within the next 12 hours while further intensification is ‘likely’ once it reaches the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
The tropical depression will emerge over the West Philippine Sea by Wednesday morning and continue to move west northwestward before moving west southwestward on Thursday.
Verbena is then forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Thursday.
Meanwhile, Pagasa hoisted Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 over the following areas, where wind speeds range from 39 to 61 kph which may potentially cause ‘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, Mobo, Palanas, Aroroy, Cataingan, Baleno)
Visayas
Antique
Aklan
Capiz
Iloilo
Guimaras
Negros OccidentalNegros Oriental
Cebu
Aside from this, Pagasa said that the surge of northeast monsoon, or amihan, and Verbena will bring ‘gusty conditions reaching strong to gale-force strength’ over the following areas that are not under the Signal No.1:
Tuesday
Luzon
Visayas
Dinagat Islands
Surigao del Norte
Agusan del Norte
Surigao del Sur
Davao Oriental
Misamis Oriental
Lanao del Norte
Misamis Occidental
Zamboanga del Norte
Wednesday
Luzon
Western Visayas
Zamboanga Peninsula
Northern Samar
Eastern Samar
Dinagat Islands
Thursday
Batanes
Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
Ilocos Norte
Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan)
Bataan
Cavite
Batangas
Western Visayas
A gale warning is also raised over the seaboards of Northern Luzon.