‘Falcon’ exits Philippines, but rain remains

Typhoon “Falcon” (international name: Chan-hom) moved out of the Philippine area of responsibility early Friday, but the country will continue to experience the monsoon rain, the state weather bureau said.

The typhoon was last spotted 675 kilometers northeast of Itbayat in Batanes, and it packed 160 kilometers per hour near the center with gusts of up to 195 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

It continued to move northwest at 22 kph.

Affected by the southwest monsoon are Luzon and western Visayas, Pagasa said.

It said the monsoon rain may trigger flashfloods and landslides in Metro Manila and the regions of Ilocos, Cordillera, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Mimaropa.

Occasional rains are expected in western and central Visayas and the rest of Luzon. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of the country.–Frances Mangosing