Tropical Depression Kristine has maintained its strength while continuing to move westward, the state weather bureau PAGASA said in its latest bulletin. As of 11 p.m., Kristine has kept a maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and a gustiness of up to 70 kph.

No. 1 was hoisted over 15 areas as Tropical Depression Kristine moved over the Philippine Sea on Monday morning, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

MANILA – Tropical cyclone Kristine has intensified into a tropical storm, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center, and gustiness of up to 80 kph, the weather bureau said Tuesday. It was last tracked 390 km.

The state weather bureau reported that Tropical Depression Kristina will prevail over most parts of the country.

Tropical Depression Kristine may become a typhoon before it makes landfall, state weather bureau PAGASA said Monday late afternoon. In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Kristine may intensify into a tropical storm in the next 12 hours.

Tropical Depression Kristine is expected to intensify into a tropical storm in 12 hours although it slightly decelerated while moving westward over the Philippine Sea, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Monday.