Tropical depression Falcon to spawn rains in Bicol, Eastern Visayas

MANILA, Philippines – The low pressure area (LPA) east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar has developed into a tropical depression early Monday.

Tropical depression Falcon will bring scattered rains and thunderstorms over the Bicol region and Eastern Visayas, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) weather specialist Ariel Rojas said.

It will also enhance the southwest monsoon over the Mimaropa region, Visayas and Mindanao.

“Falcon” was last spotted 990 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes, moving at 20 kilometers per hour north northwest.

It packs a maximum sustained wind speed of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 60 kph.

By Tuesday, it will bring light to moderate to at times heavy monsoon rains over Mimaropa, Western Visayas, the Zamboanga Peninsula and Sulu archipelago.

Metro Manila, Ilocos region, Cordillera region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Calabarzon and Western Visayas will experience the combined effects of “Falcon” and the southwest monsoon by Wednesday.

Rojas said there is a possibility that Falcon will make landfall over Cagayan on Wednesday afternoon and may intensify into a tropical storm while heading to the Babuyan Channel.

It is forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday morning. /gsg