'Jolina' heads for Isabela-Aurora

TROPICAL Storm "Jolina" has intensified further and may make landfall over Isabela-Aurora area Friday evening, August 25, the state weather bureau said.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal Number 2 has been raised over Isabela, northern Aurora, Quirino, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Ilocos Sur, Benguet, Abra, La Union and Nueva Vizcaya.

Under signal number 1 are Cagayan, including Babuyan group of islands, Apayao, the rest of Aurora, Ilocos Norte, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, northern Quezon including Polillo island, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that Jolina will bring moderate to heavy rains in the areas within its 400-kilometer diameter and it is expected to intensify further before making landfall Friday evening.

As of 10 a.m. Friday, the center of the storm was spotted at 210 kilometers southeast of Casiguran, Aurora, packing maximum winds of 80 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 95 kph.

It was forecast to move west northwest at 19 kph and may exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Sunday morning, August 27, said Pagasa.

The agency added that moderate to occasionally heavy rains are expected over most parts of Luzon beginning Friday.

Residents in areas under tropical cyclone warning signals have been alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Pagasa also warned that sea travel is risky over the seaboard of northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of central and southern Luzon. (SunStar Philippines)