PAGASA: Verbena now tropical storm, parts of northern Palawan under Signal No. 2

Parts of northern Palawan are under Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 2 as Verbena intensified into a tropical storm, the state weather bureau said on Tuesday night.

In its 8 p.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, PAGASA said the following storm signals are in effect:

Signal No. 2

Luzon:

• Calamian Islands and extreme northern portion of mainland Palawan (El Nido, Taytay, Araceli).

Signal No. 1

Luzon:

• Occidental Mindoro,
• Oriental Mindoro,
• The southern portion of Romblon (Santa Fe, Ferrol, Looc, San Jose), and
• The northern and central portions of Palawan (Dumaran, Roxas, San Vicente, Puerto Princesa City) including Cuyo and Cagayancillo Islands.

Visayas:

• Antique and the northwestern portion of Aklan (Malay, Buruanga, Nabas).

PAGASA said Verbena – formerly a tropical depression – has strengthened into a tropical storm as it continues to approach Calamian Island and northern mainland Palawan.

It is packing maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 80 km/h, and central pressure of 996 hPa. Verbena is moving west northwestward at 20 km/h.

The center of the tropical storm was estimated to be over the coastal waters of Linapacan, Palawan as of 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The state weather bureau said Verbena will move west northwestward over Sulu Sea and make landfall over the northern portion of Palawan tonight.

It will then emerge over the West Philippine Sea by Wednesday, November 26, after which it will pass north of Kalayaan Islands by Wednesday evening.

Verbena is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility early morning of Thursday, November 27 and turn west southwestward from Thursday until morning of Friday, November 28.

“Verbena may reach severe tropical storm category as early as tomorrow and will continue to intensify until Thursday due to favorable environment. Afterwards, a weakening trend may occur due to the effect of the surge of the Northeast Monsoon,” PAGASA added.

Earlier at 5 p.m. Tuesday, the state weather bureau issued a gale warning covering the seaboards of Northern Luzon, and warned of very rough seas in the coastal waters of Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Kalayaan Islands, and mainland Cagayan.

PAGASA advised mariners of small seacrafts, including all types of motorbancas, not to venture out to sea under these conditions, especially if inexperienced in operating ill-equipped vessels. — With a report from Vince Angelo Ferreras/JMA, GMA Integrated News