Signal No. 1 up in 27 areas as Verbena maintains strength, moves toward PH Sea

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is hoisted in 27 areas as Tropical Depression Verbena maintained its strength Monday morning and continues to move westward over the Philippine Sea.

In its 8 a.m. advisory, state weather bureau PAGASA said the center of Verbena was located at 290 km east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte. It is moving westward at 20 km/h.

It is packing maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 55 km/h, and central pressure of 1002 hPa. Meanwhile, strong winds extend outwards up to 200 kilometers from the center.

The following areas are under Signal No 1 :

Luzon

• The southern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Magsaysay, San Jose, Rizal, Calintaan), the southern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Bulalacao, Mansalay, Roxas, Bongabong),
• Romblon,
• the northern portion of Palawan (Araceli, Taytay, El Nido, Dumaran) including Cuyo and Calamian Islands, 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, 
• Cebu, 
• Camotes Islands,  
• Bohol, 
• Negros Occidental, 
• Negros Oriental, 
• Siquijor, 
• 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, San Miguel, City of Tandag, Tago, Bayabas, Cagwait, Marihatag), 
• Agusan del Norte, 
• the northern portion of Agusan del Sur (Sibagat), 
• Camiguin, and 
• the northeastern portion of Misamis Oriental (Magsaysay)

PAGASA said Verbena will move generally west northwestward and will make landfall or pass close over northeastern Mindanao Monday afternoon before crossing Visayas and the northern portion of Palawan from today until Wednesday.

It may slightly intensify prior to making landfall but will likely cross the Philippine landmass as a tropical depression.

It will then emerge over the West Philippine Sea by Wednesday morning and forecast to intensify further into a tropical storm.—AOL, GMA Integrated News