Binga, Magat dam gates remain open as Florita heads for Isabela, Cagayan

Two Luzon dams had one gate open each on Tuesday morning to release water as Severe Tropical Storm Florita is heading for landfall over either Cagayan or Isabela.

At 6 a.m. on August 23, Binga Dam in Benguet had one gate open at 0.30 meter, same as on Monday, data from PAGASA showed.

The dam's reservoir water level (RWL) was at 572.76 meters on Tuesday morning, near the 575-meter spilling level or normal high water level (NHWL).

Magat Dam, which straddles Isabela and Ifugao, meanwhile, had one gate open at 0.50 meter at 6 a.m., same as on Monday.

Its RWL was at 186.59 meters at 6 a.m. Tuesday, a few meters away from its 190-meter NHWL.

PAGASA said 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. 

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 has been hoisted on Tuesday morning over the northern and eastern portion of mainland Cagayan, and the eastern portion of Isabela.

TCWS No. 2 meanwhile has been raised over the rest of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, the rest of Isabela, the northern portion of Benguet, and 10 other areas.

Cagayan, Isabela, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, and Zambales will have heavy to intense with at times torrential rains on Tuesday, PAGASA said. —KG, GMA News