Signal No. 3 has been raised over parts of Luzon as "Kristine" intensified into a severe tropical storm on Wednesday afternoon.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the following areas are under the tropical cyclone wind signal:

Isabela
Kalinga
Mountain Province
Ifugao
the central portion of Abra (Malibcong, Licuan-Baay, Sallapadan, Daguioman, Bucloc, Boliney, Tubo, Luba, Manabo, Bucay, Villaviciosa, Pilar, San Isidro, Pe)
Benguet
Quirino
Nueva Vizcaya
northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler)
northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Lupao, San Jose City, Pantabangan)
Pangasinan
La Union
central and southern portions of Ilocos Sur (Cervantes, Quirino, Sigay, Suyo, Alilem, Sugpon, Tagudin, Santa Cruz, Salcedo, Gregorio del Pilar, San Emilio, Lidlidda, Burgos, San Esteban, Santiago, Banayoyo, Galimuyod, City of Candon, Santa Lucia, Nagbukel, Santa Maria, Narvacan)

The following areas, meanwhile, are under Signal No. 2:

Ilocos Norte
the rest of Ilocos Sur
Apayao
the rest of Abra
Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
rest of Aurora
rest of Nueva Ecija
Bulacan
Tarlac
Pampanga
Zambales
Bataan
Metro Manila
Cavite
Laguna
Rizal
Quezon including Polillo Islands
Camarines Norte
Camarines Sur
Catanduanes

The following are under Signal No. 1:

Luzon

Batanes
Batangas
Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands
Oriental Mindoro
Marinduque
Romblon
Calamian Islands
Albay
Sorsogon
Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands

Visayas

Aklan
Capiz
Antique including Caluya Islands
Iloilo
Guimaras
northern portion of Negros Occidental (Pontevedra, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Bago City, La Carlota City, Valladolid, Pulupandan, Bacolod City, San Enrique, Murcia, Silay City, City of Talisay, Enrique B. Magalona, Manapla, City of Victorias, Cadiz City, Sagay City, City of Escalante, Toboso, Calatrava, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City)
northern portion of Negros Oriental (Vallehermoso, Canlaon City, City of Guihulngan)
northern and central portions of Cebu (Alcantara, Argao, Dumanjug, Sibonga, Pinamungahan, Ronda, Liloan, Cebu City, Moalboal, Consolacion, Danao City, Borbon, Carmen, Daanbantayan, Tuburan, City of Bogo, Tabogon, City of Naga, Lapu-Lapu City, City of Carcar, Mandaue City, Catmon, Minglanilla, Toledo City, Cordova, Compostela, San Remigio, Balamban, Aloguinsan, San Fernando, Asturias, Barili, Medellin, Sogod, Tabuelan, City of Talisay) including Bantayan Islands and Camotes Islands Bohol
Eastern Samar
Northern Samar
Samar
Leyte
Biliran
Southern Leyte

Mindanao

Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte including Siargao - Bucas Grande Group

PAGASA said "Kristine" is so far located 175 km east of Echague, Isabela, packing maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h near the center and with a  gustiness of up to 115 km/h.

It is moving northwestward at 20 km/h.

The weather bureau said a gale warning is hoisted over the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas. 

"Kristine" is forecast to further intensify until it makes landfall over Aurora tonight or early morning tomorrow. 

It may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) region on Friday. 