Four areas remain under Signal No. 3 as Florita moves over north Apayao

Four areas are under Signal No. 3 on as Severe Tropical Storm Florita traversed the northern portion of Apayao, PAGASA said in its 5 p.m. severe weather bulletin.

Signal No. 3 was hoisted over the following areas:

·       Ilocos Norte

·       Apayao

·       southern portion of Babuyan Islands (Camiguin Island, Fuga Island and Dalupiri Island

·       mainland Cagayan

These areas have storm-force winds that would prevail within prevailing or are expected within the next 18 hours. Winds may also result in moderate to significant threat to life and property, PAGASA said.

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

·       Ifugao

·       Mountain Province

·       Kalinga

·       Abra

·       Ilocos Sur

·       the rest of Babuyan Islands

Gale-force winds will prevail or expected within 24 hours over these areas. Winds may also result in minor to moderate threat to life and property.

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

·       La Union

·       eastern portion of Pangasinan (Umingan, San Fabian, Sison, Pozorrubio, San Jacinto, Laoac, Binalonan, San Manuel, Asingan, Tayug, Santa Maria, San Quintin, Natividad, San Nicolas),

·       Benguet

·       Nueva Vizcaya

·       Quirino

·       northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Lupao, San Jose City, Pantabangan)

·       northern and central portions of Aurora (Maria 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 4 p.m., the center of Florita was estimated at 18.2°N, 121.2°E in the vicinity of Kabugao Apayao.

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 20 kph.

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

Rainfall

Heavy to intense with at times torrential rains will be experienced over Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Zambales, and Bataan.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains meanwhile are expected over Metro Manila, Isabela, Tarlac, Pampanga, Cavite, and the rest of Cagayan Valley.

On Wednesday, Ilocos Region, Benguet, and Abra will experience moderate to heavy with at times intense rains

Zambales, Bataan, and the rest of Cordillera Administrative Region, 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.

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 the Southwest Monsoon 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 will continue moving generally northwestward or west northwestward and is forecast to traverse the northern portions of Apayao and Ilocos Norte.

Afterwards, ‘Florita’ will emerge over the West Philippine Sea tonight, it added.

Florita, which may weaken when it passes through Northern Luzon, is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday morning.

Once over the West Philippine Sea, the tropical cyclone is forecast to re-intensify and may reach typhoon category by Wednesday afternoon, the state weather bureau said.