Ada intensifies into tropical storm east of Surigao City

MANILA, Philippines – Ada strengthened from a tropical depression into a tropical storm at 2 pm on Thursday, January 15, while remaining over the Philippine Sea.

It was assigned the international name Nokaen, a name contributed by Laos which refers to a kind of bird.

In a briefing past 5 pm on Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Ada now has maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour from the previous 55 km/h. Its gustiness is now up to 80 km/h from 70 km/h.

The tropical storm was last spotted 400 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, as of 4 pm. It slightly accelerated, moving northwest at 15 km/h from 10 km/h.

Ada is projected to pass close to Eastern Samar and Northern Samar by Saturday, January 17, and Catanduanes by Sunday, January 18.

But PAGASA said that “a further westward shift” in Ada’s track may lead to landfall in Eastern Visayas and/or Bicol. “The track forecast may change in succeeding bulletins, especially for the Saturday or Sunday period,” added the weather bureau.

Significant rain from Ada is still expected in Caraga, Eastern Visayas, and Bicol over the next three days, with floods and landslides likely.

Thursday afternoon, January 15, to Friday afternoon, January 16

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 millimeters): Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte

Friday afternoon, January 16, to Saturday afternoon, January 17

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte

Saturday afternoon, January 17, to Sunday afternoon, January 18

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Catanduanes, Camarines Sur
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Albay, Camarines Norte

Meanwhile, a few more areas in Bicol were placed under Signal No. 1. Here is the full list as of 5 pm on Thursday:

• eastern part of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Presentacion, Garchitorena)
• Sorsogon
• southeastern part of Albay (Rapu-Rapu, Manito, Legazpi City, Bacacay, Santo Domingo, Tabaco City, Malilipot, Malinao, Tiwi)
• Catanduanes
• Northern Samar
• Samar
• Eastern Samar
• eastern part of Biliran (Maripipi, Kawayan, Culaba, Caibiran, Cabucgayan)
• eastern part of Leyte (Carigara, Barugo, San Miguel, Babatngon, Tacloban City, Tunga, Jaro, Alangalang, Santa Fe, Palo, Dagami, Pastrana, Tanauan, Tabontabon, Julita, Dulag, Tolosa, La Paz, Mayorga, MacArthur, Javier, Abuyog, Mahaplag)
• eastern part of Southern Leyte (Silago, Sogod, Libagon, Saint Bernard, Hinunangan, Hinundayan, Anahawan, San Juan, Liloan, San Ricardo, San Francisco, Pintuyan)
• Dinagat Islands
• Surigao del Norte
• Surigao del Sur

The highest possible tropical cyclone wind signal due to Ada is Signal No. 2.

The northeast monsoon or amihan and the periphery of the tropical storm may also bring strong to gale-force gusts to these areas:

Thursday, January 15

• Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Aurora, Calabarzon, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque, Cuyo Islands, Bicol, Visayas, Caraga, Davao Oriental

Friday, January 16

• Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, eastern Isabela, Aurora, Calabarzon, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque, Cuyo Islands, Bicol, Visayas, Caraga

Saturday, January 17

• Batanes, Babuyan Islands, northern and eastern mainland Cagayan, eastern Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Aurora, Calabarzon, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque, Bicol, Visayas, Caraga

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PAGASA maintained its warnings for affected seaboards in the next 24 hours.

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

• Northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes, Northern Samar, and Siargao-Bucas Grande Islands; eastern seaboards of Albay, Sorsogon, Eastern Samar, Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Sur – waves up to 4 meters high
• Seaboard of Camarines Norte; northern seaboard of Camarines Sur; eastern seaboard of Polillo Islands – waves up to 3.5 meters high
• Seaboards of Isabela, Aurora, and northern mainland Quezon; eastern seaboards of mainland Cagayan and Davao Oriental; northern seaboard of Polillo Islands – waves up to 3 meters high

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

• Seaboards of Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and Ilocos Norte; northern seaboard of mainland Cagayan; eastern seaboard of Camarines Sur; remaining seaboard of Catanduanes – waves up to 2.5 meters high
• Eastern seaboard of Davao Occidental – waves up to 2 meters high

Ada is the Philippines’ first tropical cyclone for 2026.

PAGASA expects two to eight tropical cyclones to form within or enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility in the first half of 2026. These are the estimates per month:

• January – 0 or 1
• February – 0 or 1
• March – 0 or 1
• April – 0 or 1
• May – 1 or 2
• June – 1 or 2

– Rappler.com