Signal No. 2 up over 6 areas as 'Ada' keeps strength

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm Ada (international name: Nokaen) maintains its strength as it moves over the coastal waters of Baras, Catanduanes, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

At 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 17, Ada was carrying peak winds of 85 kilometers per hour near the center, gusts of up to 115 km/h and a central pressure of 994 hPa.

Ada is moving northwestward at 25 kph, with strong to gale-force winds extending up to 400 km from the center.

Warning signals

PAGASA hoisted tropical cyclone wind signals over the following areas:

Signal No. 2

• eastern portions 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)
• Catanduanes
• Albay
• Sorsogon

Visayas

• Northern Samar

Residents in these areas should prepare for minor to moderate threat to life and property due to winds ranging from 62 to 88 kph.

Signal No. 1

Luzon

• 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
• eastern portion of Romblon (Cajidiocan, Magdiwang, San Fernando)
• rest of Camarines Norte
• rest of Camarines Sur
• Masbate

Visayas

• Eastern Samar
• Samar
• Biliran
• 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)
• northern portion of Cebu (Medellin, Daanbantayan) including Bantayan Islands

Areas under Signal No. 1 may experience strong winds ranging from 39 to 61 kph, which could cause minimal to minor damage.

PAGASA warned that Wind Signal No. 3 may be raised as the storm could still intensify into a severe tropical storm.

The northeast monsoon, combined with the periphery of Ada, is also bringing strong to gale-force gusts across northern and eastern Luzon, including Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Romblon, and Oriental Mindoro, as well as parts of Visayas such as Aklan, Capiz, northern Cebu, Eastern Visayas and Dinagat Islands.

Sea conditions

Residents in coastal areas of Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar and Biliran are also warned of a minimal to moderate risk of storm surge, with peak heights reaching up to two meters in the next 48 hours.

Sea travel remains risky, with up to very rough seas of 5 meters over the seaboards of Camarines Norte, northern Camarines Sur and Catanduanes, and up to 4.5 meters in other eastern seaboards including Isabela, Polillo Islands and Northern Samar.

Mariners of small vessels and motorbancas are advised to remain in port or seek safe harbor until conditions improve.

Track, intensity

PAGASA said that heavy rainfall and severe winds may still occur in areas outside the storm’s current path.

Ada is expected to move generally northwestward today before gradually turning northward to northeastward on Sunday. A westward shift in its track could result in a possible landfall over Catanduanes, though forecast changes remain possible.

The tropical storm is expected to remain at tropical storm strength while moving over the sea east of Southern Luzon. However, it may intensify into a severe tropical storm before weakening into a tropical depression by Tuesday, January 20, due to the effects of the northeast monsoon.