Tropical Depression Romina moves toward Kalayaan Islands

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Depression Romina continued to move toward Kalayaan Islands in the West Philippine Sea, outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), on Sunday afternoon, December 22.

Romina was already over the coastal waters of Rurok Island, Kalayaan, Palawan, as of 4 pm on Sunday. It is moving north at an even faster 35 kilometers per hour, from 30 km/h in the morning.

The tropical depression maintained its strength, with maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h and gustiness of up to 70 km/h.

It was earlier given a local name — despite being outside PAR — because it is affecting Kalayaan Islands. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) usually gives local names to tropical cyclones only when they enter PAR.

The municipality of Balabac in Palawan was placed under Signal No. 1 at 5 pm on Sunday, joining Kalayaan Islands. These areas will see strong winds from Romina.

The highest possible tropical cyclone wind signal due to Romina is Signal No. 2.

The tropical depression itself is also bringing rain to Kalayaan Islands, while its trough or extension is affecting other areas in Palawan and even Mindanao, which has isolated to scattered rain.

The shear line, meanwhile, continues to trigger rain in the rest of Mimaropa, Bicol, Calabarzon, and the Visayas.

The shear line refers to the point where cold air from the northeast monsoon or amihan converges with the easterlies or warm winds from the Pacific Ocean.

PAGASA released this updated rainfall advisory for both Romina and the shear line at 5 pm on Sunday:

Sunday afternoon, December 22, to Monday afternoon, December 23

• Intense to torrential rain (more than 200 millimeters): Kalayaan Islands
• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): rest of Palawan
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, Northern Samar

Monday afternoon, December 23, to Tuesday afternoon, December 24

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Isabela, Aurora, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan

Tuesday afternoon, December 24, to Wednesday afternoon, December 25

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Aurora, Quezon
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Rizal, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Northern Samar

Affected areas must watch out for floods and landslides.

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PAGASA still expects Romina to pass near the southern part of Kalayaan Islands in the next 24 hours.

“Brief” entry into PAR is still not being ruled out, too.

“It must be emphasized that the track may still shift within the limit of the forecast confidence cone as the tropical cyclone continues to further organize,” the weather bureau said.

In terms of intensity, Romina could “briefly reach tropical storm category” within 12 hours, before weakening back into a tropical depression.

Romina is the Philippines’ 18th tropical cyclone for 2024, and the second for December, after Tropical Depression Querubin. – Rappler.com