Signal No. 3 over parts of north Luzon as Florita maintains strength

Signal No. 3 has been hoisted on Tuesday evening over parts of Northern Luzon as Severe Tropical Storm Florita maintained its strength over the coastal waters of Ilocos Norte, PAGASA said in its 8 p.m. severe weather bulletin.

The affected areas are:

·       northwestern portion of mainland Cagayan (Ballesteros, Pamplona, Abulug, Sanchez-Mira, Claveria, Santa Praxedes)

·       southwestern portion of Babuyan Islands (Camiguin Island, Dalupiri Island),

·       northern and central portions of Apayao (Calanasan, Kabugao, Luna, Pudtol, Flora, Santa Marcela)

·        Ilocos Norte

The above mentioned areas are experiencing storm-force winds or may expect them within 18 hours.

Under TCWS No. 2, meanwhile, were the following:

·       northern and central portions of Ilocos Sur (Quirino, Gregorio del Pilar, Salcedo, Santa Lucia, Galimuyod, City of Candon, San Emilio, Lidlidda, Banayoyo, Santiago, Burgos, San Esteban, Santa Maria, Nagbukel, Narvacan, Santa, Santa Catalina, San Vicente, Bantay, Santo Domingo, San Ildefonso, Caoayan, City of Vigan, Magsingal, San Juan, Cabugao, Sinait)

·       rest of Apayao, Kalinga, Abra

·       northern portion of Mountain Province (Besao, Sagada, Bontoc, Sadanga, Barlig, Natonin, Paracelis)

·       rest of mainland Cagayan

·       rest of Babuyan Islands

·       northern portion of Isabela (Roxas, Quirino, Tumauini, Delfin Albano, Mallig, Quezon, Santo Tomas, Cabagan, Santa Maria, San Pablo, Maconacon)

Areas under TCWS No. 2 are experiencing gale-force winds or may expect them within the next 24 hours.

On the other hand, the following areas were under TCWS No. 1:

·       Batanes

·       rest of Isabela

·       Nueva Vizcaya

·       Quirino

·       the rest of Mountain Province, Benguet, La Union

·       rest of Ilocos Sur,

·       northern and central portions of Aurora (Dipaculao, Dinalungan, Casiguran, Dilasag)

These areas have strong winds prevailing or expected within 36 hours. Winds may also result in minimal to minor threat to life and property.

As of 7 p.m., the center of Florita was estimated at 18.6°N, 120.4°E over the coastal waters of Burgos, Ilocos Norte.

It had maximum sustained winds of 100 kph near the center, gustiness of up to 165 km/h, and central pressure of 900 hPa.

At present, Florita is moving west northwestward at 25 kph.

It also has strong winds or higher that extend outwards up to 300 kilometers from the center.

Rainfall

Moderate to heavy with at torrential rains will be experienced over Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Zambales, Tarlac, Pampanga, and Bataan.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains meanwhile are expected over Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, and the rest of Central Luzon.

On Wednesday, Ilocos Region, Benguet, Abra, Zambales, and Bataan will experience moderate to heavy rains.

The rest of Cordillera, on the other hand, will have light to moderate with at times heavy rains.

PAGASA said scattered to widespread flooding (including flooding) and rain-induced landslides may result in areas prone to these hazards.

In the next 24 hours, the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat will also bring rains over Western Visayas and Mimaropa.

Coastal waters

Gale Warning remains in effect over the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon, most of the seaboards of Southern Luzon, and western seaboard of Visayas, PAGASA said.

In the next 24 hours, Florita and Habagat will also bring moderate to rough seas over the remaining seaboards of Southern Luzon and Visayas ranging from 1.2 meters to 2.8 meters.

Track, intensity outlook

According to PAGASA, Florita is expected to move west northwestward throughout and may exit the  Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday morning.

Florita is also forcast to re-intensify and may reach typhoon category by Wednesday afternoon, it added. —NB, GMA News