Signal no. 2 in 7 areas as Jolina becomes tropical storm

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MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Depression Jolina intensified into a tropical storm and slightly accelerated before dawn on Friday, August 25, as it moved closer toward the Northern Luzon-Central Luzon area.

In a bulletin issued 5 am on Friday, state weather bureau PAGASA said Jolina now has maximum winds of 65 kilometers per hour (km/h) and gustiness of up to 80 km/h.

The tropical storm is already 300 kilometers east southeast of Casiguran, Aurora, moving west northwest at a slightly faster 19 km/h from the previous 17 km/h.

Signal number 2 is raised over the following areas:

• Isabela
• northern Aurora
• Quirino
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Nueva Vizcaya

Signal number 1, meanwhile, is up in:

• Cagayan including Babuyan Group of Islands
• Apayao
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• Abra
• La Union
• Benguet
• rest of Aurora
• Nueva Ecija
• Pangasinan
• northern Quezon including Polillo Island
• Catanduanes
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur

PAGASA said Jolina, which has the international name Pakhar, is expected to further intensify before making landfall in the Isabela-Aurora area on Friday evening.

Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rain is also expected in most parts of Luzon beginning Friday. Residents should watch out for possible flash floods and landslides.

PAGASA also warned that sea travel is risky in the seaboard of Northern Luzon and in the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon and Southern Luzon.

Jolina is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Saturday evening, August 26.

– Rappler.com