Tropical Depression Romina Prompts Signal No. 1 in Kalayaan Islands

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration reported at 8 p.m. Sunday that Tropical Depression Romina was located over the coastal waters of Gomez Reef in Kalayaan, Palawan. As a result, the Kalayaan Island Group has been placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1, with maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h near the center and gusts reaching up to 70 km/h. The highest potential wind signal for Romina is expected to be No. 2. Forecasts indicate that Romina will move northwestward or west northwestward. It is expected to pass close to the southern part of the Kalayaan Islands within the next 24 hours, possibly intensifying to a tropical storm within 12 hours before weakening back to a tropical depression. Rainfall forecasts until Monday night include intense to torrential rains in the Kalayaan Islands, heavy to intense in the rest of Palawan, and moderate to heavy in regions such as Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, and Northern Samar.