A slightly weaker severe tropical storm "Jolina" (international name "Conson") is about to make landfall over Lobo-San Juan in Batangas on Wednesday morning, Sept. 8.
In the 8 a.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Jolina is already over the coastal waters of San Juan, Batangas while packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph.
It is moving west-northwest at 15 kph.
Based on the latest forecast track, Jolina may make landfall in Lobo or San Juan in Batangas within one to two hours.
Afterward, the storm will cross the Batangas-Cavite area before emerging over Manila Bay Wednesday afternoon or evening, which will be followed by another landfall in the Bataan peninsula.
Tropical cyclone wind signals remain hoisted over several areas in Luzon due to the anticipated passage of Jolina.
Signal No. 2 is up in Metro Manila, Marinduque, sorthern and central portions of Oriental Mindoro, northern and central portions of Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, central and southern portions of Quezon, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Metro Manila, southern portion of Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, and Tarlac.
Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 is raised over La Union, southern portion of Benguet, southern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, southern portion of Aurora, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, the rest of Bulacan, the rest of Quezon including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, western portion of Camarines Sur, western portion of Romblon, the rest of Oriental Mindoro, and the rest of Occidental Mindoro.
Signal No. 1 in other areas has been lifted.
PAGASA advised the public to take precautionary measures against possible flash floods or landslides due to heavy to intense with at times torrential rains over Metro Manila, Bataan, Romblon, Marinduque, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Occidental Mindoro, and Oriental Mindoro.
Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains are also likely over Aurora, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Camarines Sur, the northern portion of Palawan including Calamian and Cuyo Islands, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental.
"Under these conditions, scattered to widespread flooding including flash floods and rain-induced landslides are possible especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps," PAGASA warned.
It also warned of damaging gale-force to storm-force winds in areas under Signal No. 2 and strong winds with occasional gusts in areas under Signal No. 1.
Moreover, flooding due to storm surges may affect some coastal areas in Oriental Mindoro, Batangas, and Quezon province.
Coastal flooding may also occur in areas under signals 2 and 1.
PAGASA said "frictional effects" while crossing the Luzon landmass will likely lead to the weakening of Jolina into a tropical storm.
"Jolina is forecast to emerge over the West Philippine Sea tomorrow morning (Sept. 9). Re-intensification is forecast to occur beginning tomorrow afternoon as the tropical cyclone moves west-northwestward over the West Philippine Sea towards the southern China-northern Vietnam area," it said.
It will likely leave the Philippine area of responsibility by Friday morning, Sept. 10.