Signal No. 2, gale-force winds in 12 areas as Florita maintains strength

Twelve areas are now under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 as Tropical Storm Florita maintains its strength while slowly moving westward over the Philippine waters, PAGASA said Monday.

According to its 8 p.m. bulletin, the state weather bureau said the center of Florita was spotted 145 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora at 7 p.m. It is heading westward while packing maximum sustained winds of 75 km per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 km/h.

Heavy rainfall and severe winds will be experienced across the country, with the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) triggering monsoon rains in the next 24 hours. A gale warning also remains in effect over the northern, eastern, and southern seaboards of Luzon and the western seaboard of Visayas due to the tropical cyclone and the Southwest Monsoon, PAGASA added.

“In the next 24 hours, the tropical storm will bring moderate to rough seas over the western seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao. These conditions may be risky for those using small seacraft. Mariners are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions,” the state weather bureau said.

On the forecast track, PAGASA said Florita may further intensify into a severe tropical storm prior to its expected landfall in the vicinity of the east coast of Isabela or Cagayan Tuesday morning. It is also expected to slightly weaken after making landfall as it crosses the northern portion of Northern Luzon due to the frictional effects of the rugged terrain.

Outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, the tropical cyclone is forecast to re-intensify into a severe tropical storm and may reach a peak intensity of 95 km/h.

Gale-force winds are expected in the following areas, where TCWS No. 2 is hoisted:

• Isabela
• Quirino
• Eastern and central portions of Nueva Vizcaya (Kayapa, Ambaguio, Solano, Villaverde, Bagabag, Diadi, Quezon, Bayombong, Bambang, Aritao, Dupax del Sur, Dupax del Norte, Kasibu, Alfonso Castaneda)
• Apayao
• Abra
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Northern portion of Benguet (Bakun, Kibungan, Buguias, Kabayan, Mankayan, Bokod, Atok)
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• Northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler, Maria Aurora)

TCWS No. 1:

• Rest of Babuyan Islands
• Rest of Nueva Vizcaya
• Rest of Benguet
• La Union
• Eastern and central portions of Pangasinan (Bani, Bolinao, City of Alaminos, Anda, Sual, Labrador, Bugallon, Aguilar, Mangatarem, Urbiztondo, Bayambang, Bautista, Alcala, Santo Tomas, Rosales, Balungao, Umingan, San Quintin, Natividad, San Nicolas, Tayug, Santa Maria, Asingan, San Manuel, Sison, Binalonan, City of Urdaneta, Villasis, Laoac, Pozorrubio, San Fabian, San Jacinto, Manaoag, Mapandan, Mangaldan, Santa Barbara, Malasiqui, Dagupan City, Calasiao, San Carlos City, Basista, Binmaley, Lingayen)
• Eastern portion of Tarlac (San Clemente, Camiling, Moncada, San Manuel, Anao, Santa Ignacia, Gerona, Paniqui, Ramos, Pura, Victoria, La Paz, City of Tarlac, Concepcion)
• Nueva Ecija
• Rest of Aurora
• Eastern portion of Pampanga (Magalang, Arayat, Candaba)
• Eastern portion of Bulacan (San Ildefonso, San Miguel, Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Rafael, Angat, Norzagaray, City of San Jose del Monte)
• Eastern portion of Rizal (Rodriguez, San Mateo, City of Antipolo, Tanay, Baras)
• Northern portion of Quezon (Infanta, General Nakar, Real) including Polillo Islands
• Northern portion of Laguna (Santa Maria, Famy, Siniloan, Pangil, Pakil, Paete)
• Camarines Norte

— BM, GMA News