The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said severe tropical storm Florita (international name: Ma-on) has made landfall over Maconacon, Isabela at around 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 23.
After its landfall, PAGASA said the storm will traverse the northern portion of Isabela and mainland Cagayan, before emerging over the Babuyan Channel Tuesday evening.
PAGASA in its 11 a.m. bulletin warned of “heavy to intense with at times torrential rains” over Cagayan, Isabela, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Zambales, and Bataan.
“Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains” may also prevail over the northern portion of Aurora, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal, and the rest of Cagayan Valley.
Meanwhile, “light to moderate with at times heavy rains” may persist in the rest of Central Luzon, Laguna, Batangas, and Quezon.
“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 said.
It added that in the next 24 hours, the southwest monsoon or “habagat” will bring rains over Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, and Western Visayas.
Tropical cyclone wind warnings up
Signal No. 3 remains hoisted over the northern portion of Ilocos Norte, Apayao, southern portion of Babuyan Islands, mainland Cagayan, and the northeastern portion of Isabela.
Meanwhile, Signal No. 2 was raised over the rest of Babuyan Islands, the rest of Isabela, Quirino, northern and eastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, northern portion of Benguet, the rest of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and the northern portion of Aurora.
Signal No. 1 was up in Batanes, the rest of Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Benguet, La Union, eastern portion of Pangasinan, northeastern portion of Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, and the rest of Aurora.
Florita was packing maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.
“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 will likely leave the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday morning, Aug. 24.