Severe tropical storm "Jolina" (international name "Conson") has made its eighth landfall over San Juan, Batangas at around 9 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 8, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Jolina is expected to traverse Batangas and Cavite provinces before emerging over the Manila Bay between Wednesday afternoon and evening, which will be followed by another landfall in the vicinity of the Bataan peninsula.
PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said Jolina may be closest to Metro Manila between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Jolina's landfalls, so far, were in Hernani, Eastern Samar (10 p.m., Sept. 6); Daram, Samar (2 a.m., Sept. 7); Sto Niño, Samar (3:40 a.m., Sept. 7); Almagro, Samar (6:30 a.m., Sept. 7); Tagapul-an, Samar (7:50 a.m., Sept. 7); Dimasalang, Masbate (10 a.m., Sept. 7); Torrijos, Marinduque (12:15 a.m., Sept. 8); and San Juan, Batangas (9 a.m., Sept. 8)
After these landfalls, Jolina remains a strong cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 130 kph, as of mid-Wednesday.
Due to its anticipated passage, tropical cyclone wind signal number 2 is still hoisted over Metro Manila, Marinduque, northern 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, 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
In the next 24 hours, heavy to intense with at times torrential rains will be experienced over Metro Manila, Bataan, Marinduque, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Occidental Mindoro, and Oriental Mindoro, PAGASA warned.
Likewise, moderate to heavy with at times intense rains are likely over Aurora, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Romblon, Marinduque, northern portion of Palawan including Calamian and Cuyo Islands, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental.
Moreover, light to moderate with at times heavy rains may affect Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Cagayan, Batanes, Isabela, Quirino, and Nueva Vizcaya.
"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 tonight (Sept. 8) or 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 on Thursday evening or early Friday morning, Sept. 10.