Severe Tropical Storm Verbena exits PAR, but still affecting Kalayaan Islands

MANILA, Philippines – Severe Tropical Storm Verbena (Koto) left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) very early Thursday, November 27, but it continues to affect Kalayaan Islands in the West Philippine Sea.

As of 4 am on Thursday, Verbena was already 240 km north northeast of Pag-asa Island, Kalayaan, Palawan. It is moving west northwest or away from the country at 20 kilometers per hour (km/h).

The severe tropical storm intensified after leaving PAR, with its maximum sustained winds now at 110 km/h from 95 km/h. Its gustiness increased from 115 km/h to 135 km/h.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Verbena might strengthen further into a typhoon on Thursday, but it may be downgraded back to a severe tropical storm soon after due to the surge of the northeast monsoon or amihan.

Verbena is bringing moderate to heavy rain, with at times intense rain, to Kalayaan Islands on Thursday. The trough or extension of the severe tropical storm may trigger scattered rain and thunderstorms in the rest of Palawan as well.

Signal No. 1 also remains raised in Kalayaan Islands as of 5 am on Thursday due to strong winds from Verbena. Signal No. 2 was the highest tropical cyclone wind signal raised when Verbena was inside PAR.

The surge of the northeast monsoon and Verbena are also causing gusty conditions even in these areas that are not under a wind signal:

Thursday, November 27

• Batanes, Cagayan, Apayao, Abra, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan

Friday, November 28

• Batanes, Cagayan, Apayao, Abra, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Palawan

Saturday, November 29

• Batanes, Cagayan, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur

In addition, Verbena and the northeast monsoon are still affecting the country’s seaboards, mostly in Luzon.

Up to very rough or high seas (travel is risky for all vessels)

• Seaboards of Kalayaan Islands – waves up to 7 meters high
• Seaboards of Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur– waves up to 5.5 meters high
• Seaboards of mainland Cagayan– waves up to 5 meters high
• Remaining seaboards of Ilocos Region– waves up to 4.5 meters high

Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea)

• Seaboard of Isabela – waves up to 4 meters high
• Seaboards of Zambales, Aurora, and northern mainland Quezon; western seaboards of Bataan, Lubang Island, Calamian Islands, and northern mainland Palawan; northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands; northern seaboard of Camarines Norte – waves up to 3 meters high

Up to moderate to rough seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible)

• Northern seaboards of Camarines Sur and Calamian Islands; northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes; western seaboard of Occidental Mindoro – waves up to 2.5 meters high
• Seaboards of Antique, Cuyo Islands, Cagayancillo Islands, and Surigao del Sur; western seaboards of Batangas and Aklan; southern seaboards of Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro; eastern seaboards of Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Dinagat Islands, and Davao Oriental; northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar and Siargao-Bucas Grande Islands; remaining seaboards of Catanduanes, Calamian Islands, and northern mainland Palawan – waves up to 2 meters high

Verbena is the Philippines’ 22nd tropical cyclone for 2025, and the third for November, after Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi) and Super Typhoon Uwan (Fung-wong).

It made landfall in the country seven times — the first six as a tropical depression, and the seventh as a tropical storm.

Monday, November 24

• Bayabas, Surigao del Sur (1:30 pm)
• Jagna, Bohol (11:10 pm)

Tuesday, November 25

• Talisay City, Cebu (2:40 am)
• Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental (5:50 am)
• San Lorenzo, Guimaras (7:40 am)
• Miagao, Iloilo (8:50 am)
• Linapacan, Palawan (10:50 pm)

Meanwhile, the shear line continues to affect the eastern portion of Northern Luzon, while the northeast monsoon is affecting the rest of Northern Luzon on Thursday. Flash floods and landslides are still possible.

For the shear line, these provinces are receiving the most rainfall:

Thursday, November 27

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 millimeters): Cagayan
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Apayao, Kalinga, Isabela

Friday, November 28

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Apayao, Cagayan, Isabela

Saturday, November 29

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Cagayan

Mountain Province and Ifugao may also have scattered rain and isolated thunderstorms due to the shear line on Thursday.

The shear line refers to the point where cold air from the northeast monsoon converges with the easterlies or warm winds from the Pacific Ocean.

The northeast monsoon, meanwhile, is causing moderate to at times heavy rain in the rest of Cagayan Valley, the rest of the Cordillera Administrative Region, and the Ilocos Region.

Aurora and Quezon have scattered rain and thunderstorms, too, because of the easterlies.

The rest of the country will have generally fair weather, but there may be isolated rain showers or thunderstorms. – Rappler.com