MANILA – Tropical Storm Verbena, churning relentlessly over the West Philippine Sea, ramped up its fury on Wednesday, prompting Philippine weather forecasters to hoist gale-force wind signals across swaths of Palawan and nearby islands, where residents are hunkering down against the threat of lashing rains and howling gusts. The storm’s intensification signals a rough ride ahead for coastal communities, even as it barrels toward an exit from the nation’s turf by week’s end.
Packed with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour and gusts blasting up to 105 kph, Verbena – known internationally as Koto – was last tracked 130 kilometers west of Coron in northern Palawan, slicing west-northwestward at a brisk 25 kph. Experts at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) eye it swelling into a severe tropical storm by afternoon, a notch that could crank up the chaos before it slips out of the Philippine area of responsibility early Thursday morning.
The red flags are flying high: Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 now blankets the Calamian Islands, El Nido, and Taytay in Palawan, where gale-force blasts of 62 to 88 kph loom over the next 24 hours, posing a “minor to moderate threat to life and property.” Dropping a tier lower, Signal No. 1 covers the rest of Palawan – including Cuyo and the remote Kalayaan Islands – plus all of Occidental Mindoro, bracing for 39-to-61 kph winds that could whip up over the next 36 hours with “minimal to minor” risks.
Pagasa’s alert isn’t just bluster; it’s a heads-up on the deluge. Expect 100 to 200 millimeters of rain to hammer Palawan through the storm’s arc, while 50 to 100 millimeters could soak Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, and Marinduque – enough to spark localized flooding in low-lying spots and trigger landslides on vulnerable slopes. “While the core of Verbena stays offshore, its outer bands are packing a punch that could disrupt travel, damage light structures, and flood roads,” a Pagasa forecaster noted, urging folks in harm’s way to secure loose items, stock up on essentials, and monitor updates religiously.
For the fishing folk and island hoppers who call these turquoise waters home, the advisory is crystal clear: Steer clear of the high seas. Pagasa has slapped a no-sail warning on vessels in the northern and western sections of Southern Luzon, the Visayas, and the northern Mindanao seaboard, where rough swells and battering winds make for a sailor’s nightmare. No widespread evacuations have been ordered yet, but local governments in Palawan are on high alert, ready to mobilize if the rains turn torrential.
As Verbena dances on the edge of the archipelago, it’s a stark reminder of the Philippines’ front-line perch in the typhoon alley. With the storm’s path hugging the coast but veering away from a direct landfall, the worst might be dodged – but not without a drenching wake-up call. For now, Palawan’s resilient islanders are battening down the hatches, eyes glued to the horizon where dark clouds gather like uninvited guests. Stay safe, stay informed – and here’s hoping Verbena bids a swift adieu.