Tropical Depression Romina passes near Kalayaan, but PAR entry no longer seen

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Depression Romina remained outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) while passing near Kalayaan Islands in the West Philippine Sea on Sunday evening, December 22.

Romina was last spotted 165 kilometers west southwest of Pag-asa Island, Kalayaan, Palawan, at 10 pm on Sunday.

The tropical depression slightly slowed down, moving northwest at 25 kilometers per hour from 35 km/h in the afternoon.

It continues to have maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h and gustiness of up to 70 km/h, but it may still intensify into a tropical storm by Monday morning, December 23. After intensifying, however, Romina could weaken back into a tropical depression on Monday evening.

Signal No. 1 remains in effect for Kalayaan Islands, based on the 11 pm bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Sunday. The area is seeing strong winds due to Romina.

But PAGASA no longer expects to raise Signal No. 2, since Romina is now projected to move away from Kalayaan Islands in the next two days. It will head for the eastern coast of Vietnam, and may weaken further into a remnant low as it approaches the Southeast Asian country.

That scenario also means entry into PAR is no longer a possibility for Romina.

PAGASA usually gives local names to tropical cyclones only when they enter PAR, but the weather bureau made an exception for this tropical cyclone because it is affecting Kalayaan Islands. The island group is part of the province of Palawan but located outside PAR.

Intense to torrential rain from Romina will no longer hit Kalayaan Islands in the next 24 hours, but heavy to intense rain is still expected for the entire Palawan.

The shear line, meanwhile, is still bringing rain to 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.

As of 11 pm on Sunday, here is the rainfall advisory for both Romina and the shear line:

Sunday evening, December 22, to Monday evening, December 23

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 millimeters): 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 evening, December 23, to Tuesday evening, December 24

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

Tuesday evening, December 24, to Wednesday evening, 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, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Northern Samar

Floods and landslides remain possible.

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