MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 may be raised in Batanes due to Typhoon Falcon (international name: Khanun).
State meteorologists said Tuesday that Falcon could transform into a super typhoon outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), “Due to the very expansive wind field of the typhoon, the hoisting of Wind Signal due to Falcon over Batanes is no longer ruled out,” the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its latest update.
“In such a case, the highest level that may be hoisted is Wind Signal No. 1,” Pagasa added.
Falcon’s center was last plotted 925 kilometers east northeast of Extreme Northern Luzon, packing maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center with gustiness of up to 215 kph.
The typhoon is moving northwestward at 20 kph and is expected to leave PAR on Tuesday afternoon or evening.
Falcon could intensify into a super typhoon when it’s moving out of PAR, “Afterward, the typhoon will pass south of Okinawa Islands between tonight and tomorrow morning. A period of slow movement may occur by Thursday over the East China Sea,” Pagasa said.
“Falcon is potentially at its peak intensity at this time and likely to maintain its strength for the next 48 hours, although intensification into a super typhoon is not ruled out,” it added.