The weather agency, Pagasa, has raised Signal No. 3 in parts of Luzon as Tropical Storm Kristine has grown stronger, now classified as a severe tropical storm.
Kristine’s winds reached speeds of up to 95 km/h near its center, with gusts as strong as 115 km/h.
Signal No. 3 is up for these areas: Isabela, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, parts of Abra, Benguet, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, northern and central Aurora, northern Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, La Union, and parts of Ilocos Sur.
Pagasa’s 5 p.m. bulletin also placed several areas under Signal No. 2, including Metro Manila, Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon, and parts of Bicol and Visayas regions.
Signal No. 1 was issued for areas including Batanes, Batangas, Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Aklan, and parts of Cebu, Bohol, and Mindanao.
The storm is expected to continue its path, bringing heavy rains and strong winds to the affected areas.