Ada moves over sea east of Catanduanes as Signal No. 2 raised in 5 areas

Five areas in Luzon were placed under Signal No. 2 as Tropical Storm Ada moves northward over the sea east of Catanduanes on Saturday afternoon.

In its 2 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA raised the following Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals:

Signal No. 2

Luzon

• The eastern portion of Camarines Norte (Vinzons, San Lorenzo Ruiz, San Vicente, Talisay, Basud, Mercedes, Daet, Paracale)
• The eastern and central portions of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Ocampo, Goa, Lagonoy, Milaor, Nabua, Buhi, Caramoan, Baao, Cabusao, Bato, Camaligan, Pili, Sipocot, Tigaon, Pamplona, Garchitorena, Iriga City, San Fernando, Magarao, Minalabac, Balatan, Libmanan, Naga City, Calabanga, Bombon, Bula, Canaman, Pasacao, Sagñay, San Jose, Presentacion, Gainza, Lupi)
• Catanduanes
• Albay
• and the northern portion of Sorsogon (City of Sorsogon, Barcelona, Magallanes, Pilar, Castilla, Gubat, Casiguran, Donsol, Juban, Prieto Diaz)

Signal No. 1

Luzon

• The eastern portion of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Lopez, Calauag, Buenavista, San Narciso, San Andres, San Francisco, Mulanay, Catanauan, General Luna, Macalelon, Gumaca, Pitogo, Unisan, Atimonan, Plaridel, Agdangan, Padre Burgos, Quezon, Alabat, Perez) including Polillo Islands
• Marinduque
• The eastern portion of Romblon (Cajidiocan, Magdiwang, San Fernando)
• The rest of Camarines Norte
• The rest of Camarines Sur
• The rest of Sorsogon
• Masbate

Visayas

• Northern Samar
• Eastern Samar
• Samar
• Biliran
• The northern portion of Leyte (Carigara, Barugo, San Miguel, Babatngon, Tacloban City, Tunga, Jaro, Alangalang, Santa Fe, Palo, Dagami, Pastrana, Tanauan, Tabontabon, Julita, Dulag, Tolosa, La Paz, Mayorga, Macarthur, Kananga, Capoocan, Leyte, Calubian, San Isidro, Tabango, Burauen, Ormoc City, Matag-Ob, Villaba, Albuera, Palompon, Merida, Isabel)
• and the northern portion of Cebu (Medellin, Daanbantayan) including Bantayan Islands

Meanwhile, PAGASA said that the Northeast Monsoon and the periphery of Tropical Storm Ada are also expected bring strong to gale-force gusts over the following areas (especially in coastal and upland areas exposed to winds):

Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, northern and eastern mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Aurora, Quezon, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Aklan, Capiz, northern Cebu, Eastern Visayas, and Dinagat Islands

Ada was last spotted 95 km east Northeast of Virac, Catanduanes or 220 km East of Daet, Camarines Norte (13.9 °N, 125.0 °E ) moving northward at 15 kph. It has maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph.

PAGASA said Tropical Storm Ada will move generally northwestward on Saturday before slowly turning northward to northeastward on Sunday, January 18. From Sunday onwards, Ada is forecast to move slowly in a looping pattern over the sea east of Southern Luzon.

“A further westward shift in the forecast track may result in a possible landfall over Catanduanes. Furthermore, changes in forecast track over the succeeding bulletins is possible,” it added.

The state weather bureau said Ada is forecast to remain as a tropical storm while moving over the sea east of Southern Luzon. However, its further intensification to a severe tropical storm is not ruled out. —VAL, GMA Integrated News