Severe tropical storm Florita (international name: Ma-on) will likely make landfall over northern Isabela—on the coast of Palanan, Maconacon, or Divilacan this morning, Aug. 23, or over Cagayan—on the coast of Gattaran, Baggao, or Peñablanca, before noon or early afternoon, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

PAGASA in the 8 a.m. bulletin warned the public of “heavy to intense with at times torrential rains” over Cagayan, Isabela, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, and Zambales, as well as “moderate to heavy with at times intense rains” over the northern portion of Aurora, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal, and the rest of Cagayan Valley.

“Light to moderate with at times heavy rains” may also affect Camarines Norte, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, and 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 said.

Tropical cyclone wind warnings up

Signal No. 3 remains hoisted over the southern portion of the Babuyan Islands, northern and eastern portion of mainland Cagayan, and eastern portion of Isabela.

Meanwhile, Signal No. 2 was raised in the rest of mainland Cagayan, the rest of Babuyan Islands, the rest of Isabela, Quirino, northern and eastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, northern portion of Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and northern portion of Aurora.

Signal No. 1 was up in Batanes, the rest of Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, eastern portion of Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, the rest of Aurora, eastern portion of Pampanga, eastern portion of Bulacan, eastern portion of Rizal, northern portion of Quezon, including Polillo Islands, northern portion of Laguna, and Camarines Norte.

As of 7 a.m., Florita was already over the coastal waters of Palanan, Isabela, packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph.

After landfall, PAGASA said the storm will traverse northern Luzon and emerge over the West Philippine Sea this evening.

PAGASA said Florita will likely leave the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday morning, Aug. 24.