The Storm Signal Number 1 which was hoisted over northern Bohol early Friday has been lifted, said state weather bureau PAGASA.
According to PAGASA Bohol forecaster Hermie Hinlayagan, Tropical Storm Urduja is now moving very slowly towards the northwest direction at 5 kph.
The province’s northern region was removed from the list of areas under Storm Signal Number 1 in PAGASA’s 9 a.m. bulletin today.
However, Hinlayagan noted that a storm signal may be raised anew in parts of Bohol should Urduja move closer to the province again.
“Kung mo-duol pag usab, posibli nga ibalik ang storm signal,” said Hinlayagan. “Og mo padayon ang northwest direction dili mabalik ang storm signal sa Bohol.”
According to Hinlayagan, Urduja is moving very slowly and has yet to make landfall.
“Naay ridge of high pressure area sa China mainland nag extend sa northern Luzon,” said Hinlayagan. “Sa northern Luzon nay frontal system nga maoy naka pugong sa dagan sa bagyo.”
Urduja was last spotted 205 km east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar.
It slightly intensified overnight as it now has maximum winds of 75 kilometers per hour from the previous 65 kph and gustiness of up to 90 kph.
Meanwhile, all boat trips in the ports of Ubay and Talibon have been cancelled while small seacrafts in Getafe have been grounded as well.
According to the Philippine Coast Guard in Talibon and Ubay, ferry trips were immediately cancelled after the Storm Signal No.1 was raised in their areas of responsibility.
All vessels including those bound for Cebu and Leyte were not allowed to leave, the Coast Guard said.
Urduja has started to bring strong winds in the northern towns of the province which also caused the grounding of vessels.
In Tagbilaran City, operations remained normal and no sea trip was cancelled. (A. Doydora)