Jolina intensifies into a tropical storm; Samar Island areas under Signal 2

Tropical Cyclone Jolina intensified into a tropical storm as Tropical Wind Signal 2 was raised over three Samar Island areas, weather service PAGASA reported in a Monday afternoon bulletin.

At 4 p.m., Jolina was 95 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar with 75 kph winds that could gust up to 90 kph.

Signal 2 was meanwhile raised over:

• Eastern Samar,
• the eastern portion of Northern Samar (Palapag, Mapanas, Gamay, Lapinig, Laoang, Catubig, Las Navas, Pambujan), and
• the northeastern portion of Samar (Matuguinao).

These areas could expect strong to gale-force winds.

Signal 1 was also raised over:

• The eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Calabanga, Bombon, Magarao, Canaman, Camaligan, Gainza, Naga City, Milaor, Pili, Minalabac, Bula, Balatan, Nabua, Bato, Iriga City, Buhi, Baao, Ocampo, Sagñay, Tigaon, Goa, Tinambac, Siruma, Lagonoy, San Jose, Garchitorena, Presentacion, Caramoan, San Fernando),
• Catanduanes,
• Albay,
• Sorsogon,
• Biliran,
• the eastern portion of Leyte (Babatngon, San Miguel, Barugo, Alangalang, Tacloban City, Palo, Santa Fe, Pastrana, Dagami, Tanauan, Tabontabon, Tolosa, Dulag, Julita, Mayorga, Macarthur, Abuyog, Javier, La Paz, Burauen, Calubian, Leyte, Capoocan, Carigara, Jaro, Kananga, Ormoc City),
• the eastern portion of Southern Leyte (Silago, Hinunangan, Hinundayan, Anahawan),
• the rest of Samar,
• the rest of Northern Samar,
• Dinagat Islands,
• the Siargao Islands, and
• the Bucas Grande Islands.

Strong winds (strong breeze to near gale conditions) with occasional gusts could be expected in these areas.

Moderate to heavy rain, with at times intense rain, could meanwhile be expected over Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and Sorsogon in the next 24 hours, with moderate to heavy rain likewise expected over the Bicol Region and the rest of the Visayas.

PAGASA warned that isolated to scattered flash flooding and rain-induced landslides were possible, especially in areas that were highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards.

Also, moderate to rough seas could be expected over the eastern seaboards of the Visayas and Mindanao. Small seacraft were advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea. Inexperienced mariners were warned against navigating in these conditions.

With Jolina making its way west-northwest at 20 kph, PAGASA projected that  Jolina would move parallel to the east coast of the country until it makes landfall over north-central Luzon by Thursday morning September 9.

Jolina would then move westward and traverse north-central Luzon and re-emerge over the West Philippine Sea by Thursday evening.

Jolina was forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Friday morning-September 10.

However, given the uncertainty of the track forecast, PAGASA warned that a westward shift of the track was possible, and landfall or close pass near Eastern Samar or Northern Samar could occur.

The weather service thus advised the public to continue monitoring for possible changes in the track forecast in the succeeding bulletins. — DVM, GMA News