All signals lifted as Florita moves towards Southern China

All tropical cyclone wind signals have been lifted as Severe Tropical Storm Florita slightly intensified while moving towards Southern China, weather bureau PAGASA said Wednesday.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said despite the lifting of wind signals, gusts reaching strong breeze to near gale-force strength may still be experienced (especially in the coastal and mountainous areas) over Mimaropa, Cavite, Quezon, Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Aurora, Ilocos Region, the Cordillera Administrative Region, and Cagayan Valley.

Meanwhile, the Southwest Monsoon may continue to bring rains over the western sections of Luzon in the next 24 hours.

PAGASA said Florita was forecast to move generally west northwestward over the West Philippine Sea towards the southern portion of China, where it is expected to make landfall on Thursday morning or early afternoon.

The tropical cyclone is also expected to re-intensify and reach typhoon category on Wednesday evening.

As of 10 a.m. on Wednesday, the center of Florita was spotted 490 kilometers west of Calayan, Cagayan (outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility). 

It is moving west northwestward at 25 km/h, with maximum sustained winds of 100 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 125 km/h. —VBL, GMA News