Kalayaan Islands still under Signal No. 1 as Verbena keeps strength

Signal No. 1 is still hoisted over the Kalayaan Islands as Severe Tropical Storm Verbena maintained its strength, PAGASA said Wednesday afternoon.

Based on the state weather bureau’s 5 p.m. cyclone bulletin, Verbena was located 230 km northeast of Pag-asa Island, Kalayaan, Palawan.

It is carrying maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 115 km/h. It was moving westward at 15 km/h.

PAGASA warned that areas under Signal No. 1 may experience minimal to minor impacts from strong winds.

It added that on Thursday, the surge of the Northeast Monsoon (Amihan) and the storm will also bring gusty conditions reaching strong to gale-force strength over Batanes, Cagayan, Apayao, Abra, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Zambales, Bataan, Lubang Island, and Palawan, which are not under any wind signal.

A gale warning is in effect over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the western seaboard of Southern Luzon.

“It must be emphasized that heavy rainfall and severe winds may still be experienced in localities outside the landfall point and the forecast confidence cone,” PAGASA said.

“Furthermore, the track may still shift within the limit of the forecast confidence cone,” it added.

Verbena is expected to move westward or west-northwestward over the West Philippine Sea on Wednesday through Thursday afternoon and pass north of the Kalayaan Islands.

The storm may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning.

It will then decelerate significantly and move slowly west-southwestward until Friday morning or afternoon.

“Verbena is forecast to continue intensifying within the next 48 hours due to a favorable environment,” PAGASA said.

“Afterwards, the surge of the Northeast Monsoon will result in a slight weakening trend for the rest of the forecast period,” it added. –NB, GMA Integrated News