‘Falcon’ to bring about monsoon rains

MT Satellite image July 8, 2015, 6:01 a.m. Screengrab from https://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/index.php

Typhoon Falcon (international name: Chan-hom), which entered the Philippine area of responsibility Tuesday night, will enhance the southwest monsoon in Luzon, the state weather bureau said Wednesday.

Monsoon rains may trigger flashfloods and landslides in the provinces of Mindoro, Palawan, Bataan and Zambales, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

Falcon typhoon packed maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 160 kph, Pagasa said.

It is not expected to make landfall but it will intensify the prevailing southwest monsoon. It is forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Friday.

The typhoon was last observed 1,339 kilometers east northeast of Aparri in Cagayan or 1,335 kilometers east of Calayan. It moved west northwest at 20 kph.

Light to moderate rains is expected over Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cordillera and Western Visayas. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of the country, Pagasa said.

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