THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) raised on Monday, August 22, 2022, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 in several areas in northern Luzon due to Tropical Storm Florita.

TCWS No. 2, which posed minor to moderate threat to life and property, was hoisted over the following areas:

*the eastern portion of Cagayan (Enrile, Tuguegarao City, Peñablanca, Iguig, Baggao, Gattaran, Lal-Lo, Gonzaga, Santa Teresita, Buguey, Santa Ana)

*the eastern and central portions of Isabela (Cabagan, San Pablo, Santa Maria, Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan, San Mariano, Ilagan City, Delfin Albano, Tumauini, Santo Tomas, Quezon, Mallig, Roxas, Quirino, San Manuel, Aurora, Cabatuan, Luna, Burgos, Gamu, Reina Mercedes, City of Cauayan, Alicia, San Isidro, Echague, Jones, San Agustin, San Guillermo, Angadanan, Naguilian, Benito Soliven, Dinapigue)

*the extreme northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran)

*the northeastern portion of Quirino (Maddela)

The rest of Cagayan, Isabela and Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, La Union, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, the northern and central portions of Aurora (Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler, Maria Aurora, San Luis), and the northern portion of Polillo Island (Panukulan, Burdeos) were under TCWS No. 1.

As of 10 a.m., Florita was 215 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora with a maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (KpH) near the center, gustiness of up to 90 KpH and central pressure of 996 Hectopascal (hPa). It was moving west-southwestward at 15 KpH.

The Pagasa said light to moderate with at times heavy rains is expected over Cagayan, Isabela, Batanes, Aurora, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union within the day.

The agency earlier said rain showers are also expected over Southern Luzon and Visayas due to the southwest monsoon, which is being enhanced by Florita. (SunStar Philippines)