PAGASA: Tropical Depression Crising reaches southern Palawan

Tropical Depression Crising was in the vicinity of Balabac town in Palawan before noon Thursday, even as it maintained its strength and west-northwest path, state weather forecasters said. PAGASA said southern Palawan remained under Storm Signal No. 1 as of 10 a.m., even as Crising remains likely to exit the Philippine area of responsibility before dawn Friday. In its 11 a.m. advisory, PAGASA said Crising was estimated to be in the vicinity of Balabac, Palawan as of 10 a.m. Crising packed maximum winds of 45 kph near the center and is moving west-northwest at 15 kph. By Friday morning it is expected to be 490 km southwest of Puerto Princesa City or 320 km west of Balabac, an area already outside the Philippine area of responsibility. It added Crising may bring rainfall of 5 to 15 mm per hour (moderate to heavy) over southern Palawan. "Residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signal #1 are alerted against possible flash floods and landslides," PAGASA said. Also, PAGASA reminded fishing boats and other small sea craft not to venture out into the seaboards of Northern and Southern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon and Visayas. — LBG, GMA News