MANILA, Philippines — State meteorologists on Monday reported typhoon Falcon (international name: Khanun) has further intensified as it strengthens the southwest monsoon or habagat.
The monsoon, on the other hand, continues to bring rainfall to parts of Luzon and Visayas.
“Wala po itong direktang epekto sa anumang bahagi ng ating bansa,” weather specialist Obet Badrina said of Falcon during the press briefing of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
(It has no direct effects in any parts of the country.)
“Ang patuloy na nagdadala ng ulan, partikular na sa may bahagi ng Luzon at Visayas, ay ang southwest monsoon na pinapalakas ng bagyong si Falcon,” Badrina explained.
(Southwest monsoon is what brings rains in parts of Luzon and Visayas, and it is being strengthened by Typhoon Falcon.)
As of 5:00 a.m., the center of the typhoon was last located 1,070 km east of Extreme Northern Luzon.
It is packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) with gustiness of 185 kph.
The typhoon was stronger than its previous maximum sustained winds of 140 kph and 170 kph recorded on Pagasa’s 11:00 p.m. bulletin.
Falcon is forecast to move north northwestward on Monday night to Tuesday morning, then turn northwestward for the rest of Tuesday.
The typhoon may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility between Monday late evening and Tuesday morning, it added.
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