Signal No. 3 up over parts of Cagayan and Isabela due to Florita

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 has been hoisted on Tuesday morning over parts of Cagayan and Isabela due to Severe Tropical Storm Florita, PAGASA said in its early morning bulletin.

The affected areas are:

• the northern and eastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Abulug, Ballesteros, Lal-Lo, Baggao, Peñablanca, Gattaran, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Santa Teresita); and
• the eastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan).

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

Florita is expected to make landfall in the vicinity of the east coast of either Cagayan or northern Isabela on Tuesday morning or early afternoon.

TCWS No. 2 meanwhile has been raised over the following areas:

• the rest of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands;
• the rest of Isabela;
• Quirino;
• the 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;
• the northern portion of Benguet (Bakun, Kibungan, Buguias, Kabayan, Mankayan, Bokod, Atok);
• Ilocos Norte;
• Ilocos Sur; and
• the northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler, Maria Aurora).

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

Meanwhile, the following areas have been placed under TCWS No. 1:

• Batanes;
• the rest of Nueva Vizcaya;
• the rest of Benguet;
• La Union;
• Pangasinan;
• the 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;
• the rest of Aurora;
• the eastern portion of Pampanga (Magalang, Arayat, Candaba);
• the eastern portion of  Bulacan (San Ildefonso, San Miguel, Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Rafael, Angat, Norzagaray, City of San Jose del Monte);
• the eastern portion of Rizal (Rodriguez, San Mateo, City of Antipolo, Tanay, Baras);
• the northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta, Real, Mauban, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Calauag) including Polillo Islands;
• the northern portion of Laguna (Santa Maria, Famy, Siniloan, Pangil, Pakil, Paete); and
• Camarines Norte.

The above mentioned areas under TCWS No. 1 are experiencing strong winds or may expect them within the next 36 hours.

Florita has intensified into a severe tropical storm and is moving in a north northwestward direction toward Isabela and Cagayan at 10 km/h.

At 4 a.m., the center of Florita was located at 120 km east northeast of Casiguran, Aurora.

Florita has maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 115 km/h, and central pressure of 992 hPa.

From Florita's center, strong to storm-force winds are extending outwards up to 300 km.

Rainfall

Cagayan, Isabela, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, and Zambales will have heavy to intense with at times torrential rains on Tuesday.

The northern portion of Aurora, Bataan, Tarlac, and the rest of Cagayan Valley will have moderate to heavy with at times intense rains.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila, Calabazon, Camarines Norte, and the rest of Central Luzon will have light to moderate with at times heavy rains.

On Wednesday morning until afternoon, the Ilocos Region is expected to have heavy to intense with at times torrential rains. Benguet and Abra will have moderate to heavy with at times intense rains, while the rest of the Cordillera Administrative Region will have light to moderate with at times heavy rains.

PAGASA said scattered to widespread flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides may occur in areas prone to these hazards.

Florita is enhancing the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat). Monsoon rains will thus be experienced in the next 24 hours in Western Visayas, Mimaropa and the rest of Bicol Region.

Winds, coastal waters

"In the next 24 hours, gusts reaching strong breeze to near gale strength may also be experienced (especially in the coastal and mountainous areas) over Metro Manila, Zambales, Bataan, Mindoro Provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, Northern Samar, Antique, Aklan, and the remaining areas of CALABARZON and Bicol Region," PAGASA said.

A gale warning has been raised over the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon, most of the seaboards of Southern Luzon, and western seaboard of Visayas due to Florita and the Southwest Monsoon.

The seas will be moderate to rough in the next 24 hours over the remaining seaboards of Southern Luzon and Visayas, making it risky for those with small seacraft. Mariners have been advised to avoid navigating in these conditions, if possible.

Track, intensity

PAGASA said Florita will continue to accelerate northwestward gradually.

After its landfall in the vicinity of the east coast of either Cagayan or northern Isabela, Florita will traverse Northern Luzon, then emerge over the West Philippine Sea on Tuesday night.

The tropical cyclone may slightly weaken after landfall due to the frictional effects of the rugged terrain of Northern Luzon.

However, it is expected to re-intensify once it reaches the West Philippine Sea.

Florita is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday morning.

PAGASA advised the public and disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned to take the necessary measures to protect life and property.

The next bulletin will be issued by PAGASA at 8 a.m.

Classes, dams

Due to the bad weather caused by Florita, classes for Tuesday, August 23, 2022, have been canceled in some areas.

PAGASA said Binga Dam in Benguet and Magat Dam, which straddles Ifugao and Isabela, had one gate open each on Tuesday morning to release water as Florita is expected to bring more rains. —KG, GMA News