PAGASA: Signal No. 1 up in 23 areas across PH due to Tropical Depression Verbena

Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 1 is raised over 23 areas in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao due to Tropical Depression Verbena, the state weather bureau said on Monday morning.

In its 5 a.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, PAGASA said Signal No. 1 is hoisted over:

Luzon:  

• The southern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Magsaysay, San Jose),
• The southern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Bulalacao, Mansalay, Roxas, Bongabong),
• Romblon, and
• Mainland Masbate.

Visayas:

• The central and southern portions of Eastern Samar (Sulat, San Julian, City of Borongan, Maydolong, Balangkayan, Llorente, Lawaan, Balangiga, General Macarthur, Giporlos, Quinapondan, Hernani, Salcedo, Guiuan, Mercedes, Taft),
• The central and southern portions of Samar (Hinabangan, Marabut, Basey, Santa Rita, Villareal, Pinabacdao, Calbiga, San Sebastian, Daram, Talalora, Zumarraga, Almagro, Santo Niño, Tagapul-An, City of Catbalogan, Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas),
• Biliran,
• Leyte,
• Southern Leyte,
• The northern and central portions of Cebu (Pinamungahan, Ronda, Liloan, Cebu City, Moalboal, Consolacion, Danao City, Borbon, Carmen, Argao, Daanbantayan, Tuburan, City of Bogo, Alcantara, Tabogon, Badian, Sibonga, City of Naga, Lapu-Lapu City, City of Carcar, Mandaue City, Catmon, Minglanilla, Toledo City, Cordova, Dalaguete, Compostela, San Remigio, Balamban, Dumanjug, Aloguinsan, San Fernando, Asturias, Barili, Medellin, Sogod, Tabuelan, City of Talisay, Alegria, Alcoy) including Bantayan Islands,
• Camotes Islands,
• Bohol,
• The northern portion of Negros Occidental (City of Himamaylan, Binalbagan, Isabela, Hinigaran, Pontevedra, La Carlota City, Moises Padilla, La Castellana, Valladolid, San Enrique, Bago City, Pulupandan, Bacolod City, City of Talisay, Silay City, Enrique B. Magalona, City of Victorias, Manapla, Cadiz City, Sagay City, Calatrava, Toboso, City of Escalante, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City, Murcia),
• The northern portion of Negros Oriental (Tayasan, Jimalalud, La Libertad, City of Guihulngan, Vallehermoso, Canlaon City),
• Iloilo,
• Capiz,
• Aklan,
• Antique including Caluya Islands, and
• Guimaras.

Mindanao:

• Dinagat Islands,
• Surigao del Norte including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands,
• The northern portion of Surigao del Sur (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, Lanuza, Cortes, City of Tandag), and
• The northern portion of Agusan del Norte (Kitcharao, Jabonga, Santiago, Tubay, City of Cabadbaran).

The state weather bureau said Verbena was estimated to be 330 km east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte as of 3 a.m. Monday.

It is packing maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center with gustiness of up to 55 km/h, and central pressure of 1002 hPa. The tropical depression is moving westward at 30 km/h.

PAGASA also issued a gale warning over the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon, which will experience rough to very rough sea conditions.

It advised mariners of motorbancas and similarly-sized vessels to avoid navigation if possible or to take precautionary measures while venturing out to sea.

The state weather bureau said Verbena will move generally west northwestward and will make landfall or pass close over northeastern Mindanao by Monday noon or afternoon before crossing Visayas and the northern portion of Palawan from Monday today until Wednesday, November 26. It is expected to emerge over the West Philippine Sea by Wednesday morning.

“Verbena may slightly intensify prior to making landfall over northeastern Mindanao but will likely cross the Philippine landmass as a tropical depression. Once it emerges over the West Philippine Sea, it is then forecast to intensify further into a tropical storm,” PAGASA said.

It added that “heavy rainfall, severe winds, and storm surge may still be experienced in localities outside the landfall point and the forecast confidence cone” and that Verbena’s track may still shift within the limit of the forecast confidence cone.

In its 4 a.m. public weather forecast on Monday, the state weather bureau said Verbena, the shear line, and the Northeast Monsoon are affecting the country on Monday. — JMA, GMA Integrated News