Florita now a severe tropical storm

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm Florita intensified into a severe tropical storm yesterday as it continued to move away from the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

Florita (international name Prapiroon) – the sixth tropical cyclone to enter the country this year – was expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility yesterday afternoon.

However, the trough of Florita and the southwest monsoon would still bring scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Metro Manila, Western Visayas and the rest of Luzon.

“Residents in these areas, especially those living in low-lying and mountainous areas, are alerted against possible flooding and landslides resulting from heavy rains,” the state weather bureau said.

As of 10 a.m. yesterday, the center of the storm was located at 695 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes, packing winds of 90 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph.

The weather disturbance is forecast to move north northwest at 17 kph.

PAGASA said two to four tropical cyclones are predicted to enter the Philippines in July.

It said near to above normal rainfall is forecast in most parts of Luzon, while below to near normal rainfall in most parts of Visayas and Mindanao.

PAGASA had warned of possible El Niño development later this year.

El Niño refers to unusually warm ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific and is associated with below normal rain.