Tropical cyclone "Jolina" (international name "Conson") has intensified into a tropical storm while crossing the Philippine Sea east of Eastern Samar, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Monday afternoon, Sept. 6.
In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Jolina has maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.
As it intensified, PAGASA raised tropical cyclone wind signal number 2 over Eastern Samar, the eastern portion of Northern Samar, and the northeastern portion of Samar.
More areas were also placed under Signal No. 1. These were the eastern portion of Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Biliran, eastern portion of Leyte, eastern portion of Southern Leyte, the rest of Samar, the rest of Northern Samar, Dinagat Islands, Siargao Islands, and Bucas Grande Islands.
As of 4 p.m., PAGASA estimated the center of tropical storm "Jolina" at 95 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar. It was moving west-northwest at 20 kph.
PAGASA said Jolina may bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and Sorsogon in the next 24 hours.
Moderate to heavy rains may also prevail over Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate, and the rest of Visayas.
The cyclone-enhanced southwest monsoon or "habagat" may also bring scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over the western sections of Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Jolina is also expected to bring strong to gale-force winds in areas under Signal No. 2 while strong winds with occasional gusts will be felt in areas under Signal No. 1.
Track intensity and outlook
PAGASA said Jolina may reach its peak intensity of 85 kph by Wednesday, Sept. 8.
It is expected to move generally north parallel to the east coast of the country until its landfall over the Northern-Central Luzon area by Thursday morning, Sept. 9.
Afterward, PAGASA said the storm will move generally west while crossing the Northern-Central Luzon area before re-emerging over the West Philippine Sea by Thursday evening.
Jolina will likely be outside the Philippine area of responsibility by Friday morning, Sept. 10.
However, PAGASA said that given the uncertainty of the track forecast, a westward shift of the track may result in a landfall or passage near Eastern Samar or Northern Samar.
"The public is advised to continue monitoring for possible changes in the track forecast in the succeeding bulletins," it added.