MANILA, Philippines — Severe Tropical Storm “Florita” (international name: Ma-on) is now out of the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), but 11 areas in the country are still under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 on Wednesday, the state meteorologist said.
In its latest bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said ‘Florita’ was estimated to be 335 kilometers west of Calayan, Cagayan, packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center with gustiness of up to 115 kph.
“Severe Tropical Storm Florita is forecast to move generally west-northwestward over the West Philippine Sea towards the southern portion of China, where it is expected to make landfall tomorrow morning or early afternoon. It is also is forecast to re-intensify and reach the typhoon category tonight,” Pagasa said in its advisory.
Despite ‘Florita’ being out of PAR, Pagasa still hoists TCWS No.1 in the following areas:
Batanes
Babuyan Islands
The western portion of mainland Cagayan (Claveria, Santa Praxedes, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Abulug, Ballesteros, Allacapan, Aparri, Lasam, Santo Niño, Rizal)
Apayao
Abra
The western portion of Kalinga (Balbalan, Pasil, Tinglayan)
The western portion of Mountain Province (Bauko, Tadian, Besao, Sagada, Sabangan, Bontoc, Sadanga)
The northern and western portions of Benguet (Mankayan, Bakun, Kibungan, Kapangan, Tublay, La Trinidad, Sablan, Tuba, Baguio City, Atok)
Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Sur
La Union
Pagasa said strong winds (a strong breeze to near gale strength) would be experienced or expected within 36 hours, where Wind Signal No. 1 is currently in effect.
However, several areas in Luzon, even those not under any Wind Signal, will also experience gusts reaching strong breeze to gale-force strength in the next 24 hours.
“In the next 24 hours, gusts reaching strong breeze to gale-force strength may still be experienced (especially in the coastal and mountainous areas) over Mimaropa (Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan), Metro Manila, Cavite, Quezon, Bulacan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Aurora, and localities of Cordillera Administrative Region and Cagayan Valley that are not under any wind signal,” Pagasa said.
Meanwhile, Pagasa raised a gale warning over Northern and Central Luzon seaboards due to ‘Florita.’
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