Signal No. 1 lifted over Kalayaan Islands as ‘Romina’ moves away

Metro Manila, Philippines - Storm Signal No. 1 over Kalayaan Islands in Palawan province has been lifted after Tropical Depression Romina was seen blowing farther away from the area on early Monday morning, Dec. 23.

“Although ‘Romina’ is moving slowly, Kalayaan Islands are no longer within its radius and are therefore no longer directly affected by the tropical depression,” the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 5 a.m. bulletin.

Still, heavy to intense rainfall is expected over Northern Samar on Monday due to the trough or extension of ‘Romina’ and the shear line, where warm and cold air meet.

Moderate to heavy rainfall may be experienced over Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Aklan, Capiz, and Iloilo.

PAGASA warned of possible flooding and landslides in highly susceptible areas.

The trough, shear line, and the northeast monsoon, or amihan, could also bring strong to gale-force gusts Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Aurora, Bataan, Batangas, Cavite, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Lubang Islands, Calamian Islands, Cuyo Islands, Kalayaan Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, and Caluya Islands.

‘Romina’ is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm as it heads towards the eastern coast of Vietnam.

The tropical cyclone has been outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility throughout PAGASA's monitoring. But the state weather bureau had to give it a local name as it threatened weather conditions of Kalayaan Islands, located in the West Philippine Sea, over the weekend.