Tropical Storm Florita again strengthens, rain expected

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MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Storm Florita (Prapiroon) further strengthened and slowed down on Saturday morning, June 30, with its trough or elongated region expected to affect parts of Luzon.

In a bulletin issued 11 am on Saturday, state weather bureau PAGASA said Florita now has maximum winds of 85 kilometers per hour (km/h) from the previous 75 km/h and gustiness of up to 105 km/h from the previous 90 km/h.

The tropical storm is located 795 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes, moving northwest at an even slower pace than the previous 8 km/h.

Since its direction is upward, Florita will not make landfall in the Philippines. There are also no areas under tropical cyclone warning signals.

But the trough or elongated region of the tropical storm is expected to affect the Ilocos Region, the Cordillera Administrative Region, and Cagayan Valley.

These regions should be on alert for light to heavy rain which may trigger flash floods and landslides on Saturday. (READ: FAST FACTS: Tropical cyclones, rainfall advisories)

Based on its latest forecast track, Florita is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Sunday morning, July 1.

Meanwhile, the rest of the country not affected by Florita’s trough will have isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms on Saturday. These could also cause flash floods and landslides.

PAGASA had declared the start of the rainy season last June 8. – Rappler.com