The latest storm information from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that at 4:00 a.m. on October 23, the center of Typhoon Kristine (Trami) was at about 15.1 degrees north latitude, 124.8 degrees east longitude, 340km east of Infanta, Quezon, 180km east-northeast of Virac, Catanduanes.
Maximum winds near the center of the storm are 85 km/h, gusting up to 105 km/h, central pressure 985 hPa.
The storm is moving west-northwest at a speed of 25 km/h. Strong winds extend out to 850 km from the center of the storm.
PAGASA warned of rising sea levels with waves up to 8 meters in the coastal areas of Batanes and Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur.
Waves up to 7m high on the coast of La Union, Pangasinan, Isabela, north of Aurora, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes and the northern and eastern coasts of Camarines Sur.
Over the next 24 hours, Typhoon Kristine is expected to move northwest before turning westward for the remainder of the forecast period.
The storm is expected to make landfall in Isabela or north of Aurora tonight or early tomorrow morning (October3, 2024). The storm will then cross the mountainous terrain of Northern Luzon and appear in the western sea of the Ilocos region tomorrow afternoon. Kristine may leave the Philippine Forecast Area (PAR) on Friday (October 5).
The storm is forecast to gradually strengthen into a severe tropical storm before making landfall. The storm will weaken slightly as it passes through Northern Luzon but may strengthen again in the East Sea.
Although it has not yet made landfall, Typhoon Trami (Kristine) has caused flooding, landslides, and severe power outages in many areas of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes, causing sea travel to stall, hundreds of passengers and boats stuck at seaports. Learning, working and business activities have also been stalled.
Disaster response officials warn that the situation could get worse as the full impact of the storm has not yet been fully felt in the localities where the storm is expected to make landfall - in Isabela on October 23 or in Aurora on October 24.
As of noon on October 22, heavy rains from Typhoon Kristine have caused flooding in some areas in Luzon; Leyte and Samar provinces in Eastern Visayas and Mindanao.
In Maguindanao alone, about 300,000 families were taken to shelter on October 22 after days of flooding in most villages.
Power outages in Eastern Visayas have affected some areas in Samar.
By the end of the afternoon of October 22, Albay province and Magpet town in Cotabato had declared a state of disaster to quickly meet the needs of people for evacuation and clearing roads affected by landslides and floods.
Home Secretary Jonvic Remulla advised local authorities in Luzon to suspend classes at all levels on October 23 in preparation for the impact of unusual weather.
The Philippine agricultural sector could also face another blow as the Ministry of Agriculture estimates that Typhoon Kristine could damage more than 1 million hectares of agricultural land, mainly rice fields.
