Kristine enters PAR, may become typhoon

Tropical Depression Kristine entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) and is expected to intensify into a typhoon and make landfall in Northern Luzon by Thursday evening or Friday morning, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.

- By BELLA CARIASO

“Sunday night, the low-pressure area (LPA) that we are monitoring developed into a tropical depression. It entered PAR (Monday) midnight,” PAGASA administrator Nathaniel Servando said during a press conference.

PAGASA weather specialist Veronica Torres said Kristine is still far from the Philippine landmass but is already affecting almost all areas in the country.

“Its circulation is elongated, that's why Tropical Depression Kristine is already affecting the eastern portion of Southern Luzon and the Visayas. Its trough or extension is currently affecting almost the entire country,” Torres said.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, the center of Kristine was located at 760 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar, with maximum sustained winds of 55 km per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph as it slightly decelerates while moving westward over the Philippine Sea at 15 kph.