By Ron San Pedro
MANILA – The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has expanded the areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 as Tropical Depression Ada continues to intensify and is expected to reach tropical storm status.
In its 5 a.m. advisory on Thursday, PAGASA said Ada is now packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) with gusts of up to 70 kph. The weather disturbance was last located 385 kilometers east-northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, or 465 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, moving northwestward at 20 kph.
TCWS No. 1 has been raised over several areas expected to experience strong winds. These include Sorsogon and parts of Albay in Luzon; Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, portions of Biliran, Leyte, and Southern Leyte in the Visayas; and Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur in Mindanao.
PAGASA added that the northeast monsoon, locally known as “amihan,” combined with the outer circulation of Ada, will bring strong to gale-force gusts over Batanes, the Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, northern and eastern Cagayan, eastern Isabela, Aurora, most of Calabarzon, the Lubang Islands, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, the Cuyo Islands, the Bicol Region, and Central Visayas.
Rough sea conditions are expected along the coastal waters of Catanduanes, Northern and Eastern Samar, the Siargao-Bucas Grande Islands, Isabela, Aurora, northern Quezon, Camarines Norte and Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Surigao del Sur, Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, and Davao Oriental.
Authorities warned operators of small seacraft, including motorized bancas, against sailing due to hazardous marine conditions.
Ada is forecast to pass near Eastern Samar and Northern Samar on Friday or Saturday and may make a close approach to Catanduanes on Sunday, PAGASA said.
