Signal no. 2 hoisted over Isabela as 'Carina' intensifies into tropical storm

MANILA, Philippines -  State weather agency PAGASA upgraded "Carina" into a tropical storm Saturday afternoon.

As of 4 p.m. Saturday, Tropical Storm Carina was spotted at 290 kilometers northeast of Virac Catanduanes, with packed winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kilometers per hour. 

It was forecast to move north northwest at 18 kilometers per hour.

PAGASA expects stormy weather with rough to very rough seas to prevail over Isabela as signal number 2 has been hoisted in the province. 

At least nine areas are under public storm warning signal number 1, which include the following:  

• Cagayan including Babuyan Group of Islands
• Apayao
• Ilocos Norte
• Aurora
• Catanduanes
• Camarines Sur
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Northern Samar

The state weather bureau warned residents in Cagayan, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Aurora, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon and Northern Samar to brace for rains with gusty winds. 

"Cloudy skies with moderate to heavy rains and thunderstorms which may trigger flashfloods and landslides will prevail over the rest of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, and Bicol Region and the province of Quezon," PAGASA said.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms.

PAGASA also alerted fishermen that coastal waters in the eastern seaboards of Camarines Norte and Quezon, including Polillo Island, would be rough to very rough.

The tropical storm is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Tuesday.