Signal No. 2 up over 4 areas as 'Ada' continues to lash Bicol

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm Ada continues to bring stormy conditions over most of Bicol Region as it moves north-northwestward over the coastal waters of Catanduanes, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

As of 4:00 p.m. Saturday, January 17, the center of the storm was spotted near Pandan, Catanduanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 105 kph. 

Ada is moving north-northwestward at 10 kph.

Strong to gale-force winds now extend up to 440 kilometers from the storm’s center.

Warning signals

The following areas are under tropical cyclone warning signals:

Signal No. 2

Luzon

• eastern portion of Camarines Norte (Vinzons, San Lorenzo Ruiz, San Vicente, Talisay, Basud, Mercedes, Daet, Paracale)
• 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)
• Albay
• Catanduanes

Signal No. 1

Luzon

• southeastern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue, Palanan)
• Aurora
• 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, General Nakar, Infanta, Real, Mauban) including Polillo Islands
• Marinduque
• eastern portion of Romblon (Cajidiocan, Magdiwang, San Fernando)
• rest of Camarines Norte
• rest of Camarines Sur
• Sorsogon
• Masbate

Visayas

• Northern Samar
• northern and central portions of Eastern Samar (Can-Avid, Maslog, City of Borongan, San Policarpo, Taft, Dolores, Jipapad, Oras, Arteche, Sulat, San Julian)
• northern and central portions of Samar (San Jorge, San Sebastian, Villareal, Zumarraga, Matuguinao, Pinabacdao, Almagro, Calbayog City, Talalora, Jiabong, Pagsanghan, City of Catbalogan, Gandara, Motiong, Santo Niño, Tagapul-An, San Jose de Buan, Santa Margarita, Tarangnan, Calbiga, Daram, Paranas, Hinabangan)
• Biliran

The northeast monsoon, combined with the periphery of Ada, will bring strong to gale-force gusts over northern and eastern Luzon, parts of Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Aklan, Capiz, northern Cebu and Dinagat Islands. 

PAGASA warned that raising of Wind Signal No. 3 is possible if the storm further intensifies into a severe tropical storm.

Track, intensity

Ada is expected to continue moving northwest on Saturday before slowly turning north to northeast on Sunday, January 18. 

From then on, the storm is expected to follow a looping path over the sea east of Luzon, with a possible westward shift that may bring it closer to Catanduanes. 

Despite remaining a tropical storm, further intensification is not ruled out before weakening into a tropical depression by Tuesday, January 20.