TD Romina leaves PAR; heads to Vietnam

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression Romina has moved away from the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) as it approaches Vietnam, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.

PAGASA weather specialist Obet Badrina said Romina will be the last cyclone to enter PAR this 2024.

“At present, (Romina) is the last (cyclone for this year) based on the latest data and only a few days left before the end of December 2024,” Badrina said.

Romina was located 165 kilometers west of Pag-asa Island, Kalayaan, Palawan, according to the PAGASA official.

“Tropical Depression Romina has no direct effect in any part of the country as it moves towards Vietnam. Tropical cyclone wind signal was also lifted,” he added.

He said the trough of the tropical depression will continue to bring rains in Palawan.

He further stated that a low-pressure area (LPA) may develop in the first weeks of January 2025.

“We have new data that it is possible that an LPA may form during the first weeks of January but we are still monitoring it,” Badrina added.

Badrina explained that Romina was formed from the remnants of Tropical Depression Querubin and a typhoon in Brunei.

Meanwhile, rains are still expected in Samar provinces and Eastern Visayas due to the shear line.

“Cloudy skies accompanied by moderate to sometimes strong rains will be experienced in many areas in Bicol region, especially Sorsogon and Albay areas. Even areas in Calabarzon and Metro Manila will experience cloudy skies with slight rains brought by the northeast monsoon,” Badrina said.

Chances of rains are also expected in Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Aurora and Bulacan.

“By Wednesday or during Christmas, cloudy skies are expected in the eastern section of Southern Luzon, Bicol region, Samar provinces,” he added.

Meanwhile, a gale warning was hoisted in Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Batanes and Babuyan islands.

Based on the heavy rainfall outlook issued by PAGASA yesterday until noon today, heavy to intense rains from 100 to 200 millimeters are expected in Northern Samar, Albay, Sorsogon, Catanduanes and Camarines Sur; moderate to heavy or 50 to 100 mm rains may affect Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon, Camarines Norte, Masbate, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Aklan and Capiz.

PAGASA said that from noon today to Wednesday noon, heavy to intense rains will persist in Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Quezon and Aurora; while moderate to heavy rains are expected in Isabela, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Marinduque and Romblon.

Tomorrow noon to midday Thursday, heavy to intense rains are expected in Aurora and Quezon and moderate to heavy rains will persist in Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Rizal, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Marinduque, Romblon and Northern Samar.