Tropical cyclone Florita has intensified into a tropical storm at around 8 a.m., Monday, Aug. 22, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
In its 11 a.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, PAGASA said Florita was last spotted 215 kilometers (km) east of Casiguran, Aurora.
It was packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.
“Further intensification is likely prior to its landfall,” PAGASA said, adding that Florita may still make landfall “in the vicinity of the east coast of Cagayan or northern Isabela tomorrow afternoon (Aug. 23).”
As of Monday noon, tropical cyclone wind signal number 2 was hoisted over the eastern portion of Cagayan (Enrile, Tuguegarao City, Peñablanca, Iguig, Baggao, Gattaran, Lal-Lo, Gonzaga, Santa Teresita, Buguey, Santa Ana), the eastern portion of Isabela (Cabagan, San Pablo, Santa Maria, Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan, San Mariano, Ilagan City, Delfin Albano, Tumauini, Santo Tomas, Quezon, Mallig, Roxas, Quirino, San Manuel, Aurora, Cabatuan, Luna, Burgos, Gamu, Reina Mercedes, City of Cauayan, Alicia, San Isidro, Echague, Jones, San Agustin, San Guillermo, Angadanan, Naguilian, Benito Soliven, Dinapigue), the extreme northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran), and the northeastern portion of Quirino (Maddela).
Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 was raised over the rest of Cagayan, the rest of Isabela, the rest of Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, La Union, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, the northern portion of Aurora (Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler, Maria Aurora, San Luis), and the northern portion of Polillo Island (Panukulan, Burdeos).
PAGASA said that Florita may bring “light to moderate with at times heavy rains” over Cagayan, Isabela, Batanes, Aurora, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and La Union as early as Monday.
By Tuesday, Aug. 22, “heavy to intense with at times torrential rains” may prevail over Cagayan, Isabela, Batanes, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Ilocos Region.
Moderate to heavy rains may also prevail over the northern portion of Aurora, Zambales, Bataan, and the rest of Cagayan Valley, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains may prevail over the rest of Central Luzon.
“Under these conditions, scattered to widespread flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides are expected especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazard as identified in hazard maps, and in localities with significant antecedent rainfall,” PAGASA warned.