Falcon slows down; new low pressure area spotted

MANILA, Philippines—Tropical Storm Falcon (international codename: Meari) slowed down as it continued to move northwest Thursday but weathermen reported a new low pressure area northeast of Catanduanes.

Signal No. 1 was hoisted over the provinces of Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Isabela, Cagayan including Calayan, Babuyan Group of Islands, and Batanes Group of Islands, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said at a news conference.

These areas will experience rains with gusty winds while the rest of the country will have cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms. Rains will be widespread over the eastern sections of Luzon and Visayas which may trigger flashfloods and landslides, Pagasa said.

“Residents in low lying and mountainous areas under signal number 1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides,” the weather bureau warned.

As of 10 a.m. Thursday, Falcon was located 270 kilometers northeast of Virac, Catanduanes.

It was moving northwest at 13 kilometers per hour packing winds of 65 kph and gusts of up to 80 kph.

Meanwhile, Pagasa said another low pressure area has been spotted northeast of Virac, Catanduanes.