#FloritaPH

The number of affected individuals due to Severe Tropical Storm Florita has ballooned to 71,486 or 17,510 families in 438 barangays in five regions, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reports.

Initial report on damage on agriculture is estimated at P3,414,672 while authorities logged P33.7 million worth of damage on infrastructure in the Ilocos and Cagayan Valley regions.

Severe Tropical Storm ‘Florita’ has affected 1,344 families or 4,646 persons in the regions of Ilocos and Cagayan Valley, and the Cordillera Administrative Region, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reports.

Of these, 311 families or 946 individuals are staying in 19 evacuation centers while 154 families or 573 persons are staying outside these facilities.

The Marikina Public Information Office says water level at the Marikina River reached its first alarm at 4:48 p.m. with 15.0 meters.

"All 8 gates open," it adds.

Most local government units in Baguio and Benguet as well as in other parts of the Cordillera Region suspended classes Tuesday as weather disturbance 'Florita' turns into a severe tropical storm (STS) that is threatening the Northern part of the country.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No.2 was raised over the northern part of Benguet: Bakun, Kibungan, Buguias, Kabayan, Mankayan, Bokod and Atok.

Both Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Mayor Romeo Salda of La Trinidad, Benguet declared no classes as early as Monday night from Pre-School to High School levels for Tuesday in anticipation of the possible strong winds and strong rains brought by 'Florita'. -- The STAR/Artemio Dumlao 

Severe tropical storm ‘Florita’ further strengthens following its landfall over Maconacon, Isabela, state weather bureau PAGASA says in its 2pm bulletin.

‘Florita’ continues to move generally northwestward and is forecast to traverse the northern portion of Isabela and Cagayan.

PAGASA placed the following areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal #3:

• the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Dumalneg, Adams, Bangui, Burgos)
• Apayao
• the southern portion of Babuyan Islands (Camiguin Is., Fuga Is., Dalupiri Is.)
• mainland Cagayan
• the northeastern portion of Isabela (Palanan, Divilacan, Maconacon, San Pablo, Tumauini, Cabagan, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, Delfin Albano, Ilagan City, San Mariano)

Meanwhile, PAGASA hoisted Signal No.2 over:

• the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Dumalneg, Adams, Bangui, Burgos)
• Apayao
• the southern portion of Babuyan Islands (Camiguin Is., Fuga Is., Dalupiri Is.)
• mainland Cagayan
• the northeastern portion of Isabela (Palanan, Divilacan, Maconacon, San Pablo, Tumauini, Cabagan, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, Delfin Albano, Ilagan City, San Mariano)

The following areas are under Signal No. 1:

• Batanes
• the rest of Nueva Vizcaya
• the rest of Benguet, La Union
• the eastern portion of Pangasinan (Santo Tomas, Villasis, Mapandan, Mangaldan, San Fabian, San Jacinto, Manaoag, City of Urdaneta, Rosales, Balungao, Umingan, San Quintin, Natividad, San Nicolas, Tayug, Santa Maria, Asingan, San Manuel, Binalonan, Sison, Pozorrubio, Laoac, Dagupan City)
• the northeastern portion of Tarlac (San Manuel, Anao)
• Nueva Ecija
• the rest of Aurora

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. suspends classes in public schools and work in government offices in Metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Bulacan, Zambales and Bataan due to 'Florita'.

In its announcement of the suspension, the Office of the Press Secretary says "the heavy rains pose possible risks to the general public based on the recommendations of the Office of Civil Defense. The same course of action for private schools and offices is left to the discretion of their respective heads."

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has suspended afternoon classes from kinder to senior high school on the advise of the QC Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Schools Division Office-QC, the local government announces on its social media accounts.

MAYOR JOY BELMONTE: As per advise of the QC Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (QCDRRMO) and Schools Division Office-QC (SDO-QC), afternoon classes from kinder to senior high school shall be suspended beginning 12:30 pm onwards. pic.twitter.com/cnip4Mj4Xk

— Quezon City Government (@QCGov) August 23, 2022

Florita further intensifies as it makes landfall over Maconacon, Isabela, state weather bureau PAGASA says in its 11:00 a.m. bulletin.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 is hoisted over:

• The northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Dumalneg, Adams, Bangui, Burgos)
• Apayao,
• the southern portion of Babuyan Islands (Camiguin Is., Fuga Is., Dalupiri Is.)
• mainland Cagayan
• the northeastern portion of Isabela (Palanan, Divilacan, Maconacon, San Pablo, Tumauini, Cabagan, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, Delfin Albano, Ilagan City, San Mariano)

The following areas are under Signal No. 2:

• The rest of Babuyan Islands
• the rest of Isabela, Quirino
• the northern and eastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Quezon, Diadi, Bagabag, Villaverde, Solano, Kasibu)
• Abra
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• the northern portion of Benguet (Buguias, Bakun, Mankayan, Kibungan)
• the rest of Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao)

Meanwhile the following areas are under Signal No. 1:

• Batanes
• the rest of Nueva Vizcaya
• the rest of Benguet, La Union
• the eastern portion of Pangasinan (Santo Tomas, Villasis, Mapandan, Mangaldan, San Fabian, San Jacinto, Manaoag, City of Urdaneta, Rosales, Balungao, Umingan, San Quintin, Natividad, San Nicolas, Tayug, Santa Maria, Asingan, San Manuel, Binalonan, Sison, Pozorrubio, Laoac, Dagupan City)
• the northeastern portion of Tarlac (San Manuel, Anao)
• Nueva Ecija
• the rest of Aurora

Severe Tropical Storm 'Florita' makes landfall in the area of Maconacon, Isabela at 10:30 a.m., state weather bureau PAGASA says.

Florita, now a severe tropical storm, accelerates in north northwestward direction and is now over the coastal waters of Palanan, Isabela.

Signal No. 3 is hoisted over The northern and eastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Abulug, Ballesteros, Lal-Lo, Baggao, Peñablanca, Gattaran, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Santa Teresita) and the eastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan)

The following areas areas in Luzon under Signal No. 2:

• The northern and eastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Abulug, Ballesteros, Lal-Lo, Baggao, Peñablanca, Gattaran, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Santa Teresita)
• the eastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan)

Meanwhile PAGASA placed the following areas under Signal No. 1

• Batanes
• the rest of Nueva Vizcaya
• the rest of Benguet
• La Union
• Pangasinan
• the eastern portion of Tarlac (San Clemente, Camiling, Moncada, San Manuel, Anao, Santa Ignacia, Gerona, Paniqui, Ramos, Pura, Victoria, La Paz, City of Tarlac, Concepcion)
• Nueva Ecija
• the rest of Aurora
• the eastern portion of Pampanga (Magalang, Arayat, Candaba)
• the eastern portion of Bulacan (San Ildefonso, San Miguel, Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Rafael, Angat, Norzagaray, City of San Jose del Monte)
• the eastern portion of Rizal (Rodriguez, San Mateo, City of Antipolo, Tanay, Baras)
• the northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta, Real, Mauban, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Calauag) including Polillo Islands
• the northern portion of Laguna (Santa Maria, Famy, Siniloan, Pangil, Pakil, Paete)
• Camarines Norte

PAGASA says "Florita" intensifies into a severe tropical storm and is now moving north northwest towards the Isabele-Cagayan area. 

Based on its 5 a.m. weather bulletin, the center of the eye was spotted 120 kilometers east northeast of Casiguran, Aurora. It has maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph. 

Severe Tropical Storm Florita is moving north northwestward at 10 kph.

Tropical Depression Florita has intensified into tropical storm category as it continues its west southwestward direction over the Philippines, latest update from state weather bureau PAGASA says.

Several areas in Luzon have been placed under Tropical Cyclone Signal Number 2, PAGASA says in its 11:00 a.m. update. These are:

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

Meanwhile, the following areas remain under TCWS No. 1:

• the rest of Cagayan
• the rest of Isabela
• the rest of Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Apaya
• Abra
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• La Union
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• the northern portion of Aurora (Dinalungan, Dipaculao Baler, Maria Aurora, San Luis)
• the northern portion of Polillo Island (Panukulan, Burdeos)

Keep updated on latest developments on Troical Depression Florita.

Photo from DOST Pagasa, as of August 22, 5:00 a.m.