MANILA—Florita has intensified into a severe tropical storm and is heading for the Isabela-Cagayan area, PAGASA said early Tuesday morning.

In its 5 a.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA said Florita was last sighted at 4 a.m. approximately 120 km east northeast of Casiguran, Aurora. The severe tropical storm is packing 95 kph winds and 115 kph gusts, while moving north northwestward at 10 kph.

Florita will make landfall in the vicinity of the east coast of either Cagayan or northern Isabela on Tuesday morning or early afternoon, the weather bureau said.

"Afterwards, the storm will traverse Northern Luzon and emerge over the West Philippine Sea tonight. On the forecast track, Florita may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday morning," it said.

• Prepare yourself for a typhoon

The state weather bureau raised tropical cyclone wind signal no. 3, in the following areas in Cagayan and Isabela due to likelihood of storm-force winds:

• 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)
• Eastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan)

PAGASA warned residents in the affected areas of "moderate to significant threat to life and property."

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TCWS No. 2 is raised in:

• Rest of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, the rest of Isabela, Quirino
• Eastern and central portions of Nueva Vizcaya (Kayapa, Ambaguio, Solano, Villaverde, Bagabag, Diadi, Quezon, Bayombong, Bambang, Aritao, Dupax del Sur, Dupax del Norte, Kasibu, Alfonso Castaneda)
• Apayao
• Abra
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Northern portion of Benguet (Bakun, Kibungan, Buguias, Kabayan, Mankayan, Bokod, Atok)
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• Northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler, Maria Aurora)

TCWS No. 1 is still in effect in:

• Batanes
• Rest of Nueva Vizcaya
• Rest of Benguet
• La Union
• Pangasinan
• 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
• Rest of Aurora
• Eastern portion of Pampanga (Magalang, Arayat, Candaba)
• Eastern portion of Bulacan (San Ildefonso, San Miguel, Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Rafael, Angat, Norzagaray, City of San Jose del Monte)
• Eastern portion of Rizal (Rodriguez, San Mateo, City of Antipolo, Tanay, Baras)
• Northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta, Real, Mauban, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Calauag) including Polillo Islands
• Northern portion of Laguna (Santa Maria, Famy, Siniloan, Pangil, Pakil, Paete)
• Camarines Norte

On Tuesday, Florita will bring heavy to intense with at times torrential rains in Cagayan, Isabela, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, and Zambales, PAGASA said.

Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains will also fall in the northern portion of Aurora, Bataan, Tarlac, and the rest of Cagayan Valley.

Residents in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Camarines Norte, and the rest of Central Luzon will also experience light to moderate with at times heavy rains, the weather agency said.

"Scattered to widespread flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides are expected especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazard as identified in hazard maps, and in localities with significant antecedent rainfall," PAGASA said.

• Stuck at home? Prepare a storm survival kit

It warned mariners against venturing out at sea in coastal waters in the affected areas, especially those under Signal No. 3.

For more updates, check the ABS-CBN Weather Center.

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