‘Florita’ now a tropical storm

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression Florita (international name: Prapiroon) has intensified into a tropical storm Friday, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

At 10 a.m., “Florita” was last seen at 860 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes. It packs maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kilometers per hour.

The tropical storm is forecast to move northwest at 11 kilometers per hour.

No tropical cyclone warning signal has been raised over any area of the country.

While “Florita” is not expected to make landfall, it is seen to boost the “habagat” or southwest monsoon, which will bring occasional rains over the extreme northern Luzon area this weekend.

Forecast positions

• 24 hours (Saturday morning): 710 kilometers east-northeast of Basco, Batanes
• 48 hours (Sunday morning): 715 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes
• 72 hours (Monday morning): 1,390 kilometers north-northeast of Basco, Batanes

— Gaea Katreena Cabico