Heavy to torrential rains continued to lash northern Luzon hours after severe tropical storm Florita (international name: Ma-on) made landfall over Maconacon, Isabela Tuesday morning, Aug. 23.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in its 5 p.m. bulletin said Florita has slightly weakened and was now packing maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 125 kph.
Florita was located in the vicinity of Kabugao, Apayao at around 4 p.m.
“Severe tropical storm Florita will continue moving generally northwestward or west-northwestward and is forecast to traverse the northern portions of Apayao and Ilocos Norte. Afterwards, Florita will emerge over the West Philippine Sea tonight (Aug. 23),” PAGASA said.
PAGASA warned of heavy to intense with, at times, torrential rains in Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Ilocos Region.
Zambales and Bataan may also receive heavy to intense with, at times, torrential rains due to the enhanced southwest monsoon or “habagat.”
Moderate to heavy rains may also prevail over Metro Manila, Isabela, Tarlac, Pampanga, Cavite, and the rest of Cagayan Valley, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains may persist in Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, and the rest of Central Luzon.
PAGASA said the habagat may also bring rains in Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, and Western Visayas.
Wind warnings still up in several Luzon areas
As of 5 p.m., Signal No. 3 remained hoisted over Ilocos Norte, Apayao, southern portion of Babuyan Islands, and mainland Cagayan.
Moreover, Signal No. 2 was still up over Ifugao, Mountain Province, Kalinga, Abra, Ilocos Sur, and the rest of the Babuyan Islands.
La Union, eastern portion of Pangasinan, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, northern portion of Nueva Ecija, and the northern and central portions of Aurora were still under Signal No. 1.
“Throughout the passage of Florita, winds may reach storm-force in strength in any of the areas where wind Signal No. 3 is hoisted, while winds may reach gale-force in strength in any of the areas where wind Signal no. 2 is hoisted. Strong winds (strong breeze to near gale strength) will be experienced within any of the areas where wind Signal no. 1 is currently in effect,” PAGASA said.
Florita made landfall over Maconacon, Isabela at around 10:30 a.m., Aug. 23.
It will likely leave the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday morning, Aug. 24.