Luzon, Western Visayas brace for ‘habagat’

Satellite Image-07:14 PM-July 8, 2015. SCREENGRAB from noah.dost.gov.ph

MONSOON rains enhanced by the Typhoon Falcon (Chan-hon) will be experienced in Luzon and Western Visayas, the state weather bureau said Wednesday.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration also warned of flashfloods and landslides in the regions of Ilocos, Cordillera, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon and Mimaropa.

The southwest monsoon or hanging habagat is currently prevailing in Luzon and Western Visayas.

Occasional rains are expected in Western and Central Visayas, Pagasa said.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of the country.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over the entire archipelago with moderate to rough seas.

Falcon was last located at 1,065 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 160 kph.

It is forecast to move west northwest at 20 kph and is expected to be outside the Philippine area of responsibility by Friday morning.

Falcon will not make landfall but it will whip up the southwest monsoon, Pagasa said.