‘Falcon’ Continues to Enhance ‘Habagat’; Flash Flood, Landslide Warning up in NCR, Luzon — PAGASA

(PNA) — Flash floods and landslides threaten parts of Luzon including Metro Manila on Thursday due to southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoon “Falcon” which has maintained its strength, according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Thursday.

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Shelley Ignacio said that as of 6 a.m., the eye of Typhoon “Falcon” was located 860 km east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes (22.2°N, 130.0°E) with packed maximum sustained winds of 130 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph. It is forecast to move west northwest at 20 kph.

Igancio said that Falcon is not expected to make landfall in any part of the country as no public storm warning signal has been raised in any part of the country.

While maintaining its speed and movement, Falcon is expected to Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Friday morning and will head towards Taiwan or China.

However, Ignacio said Falcon continues to enhance the southwest monsoon now affecting Luzon and Western Visayas.

On Thursday forecast, PAGASA said monsoon rains which may trigger flash floods and landslides will be experienced over Metro Manila, the regions of Ilocos, Cordillera, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Mimaropa.

Occasional rains are expected over the rest of Luzon, Western and Central Visayas while partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of the country.

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

The state weather bureau also issued gale warning, strong to gale-force winds associated with the southwest monsoon enhance by tropical storm Linfa (Egay) and typhoon Falcon may affect the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas will be rough to very rough.

“Fishing boats and other small sea crafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” it said.

Meanwhile, Ignacio said the agency continues monitoring another typhoon still outside the PAR.

She said typhoon with international name Nangka is located approximately 2,740 km east of Luzon and has high chance to enter the country.

“Malayo pa ito marami pang pwedeng mangyari pero mataas ang chance pumasok sa PAR kaya continues monitoring tayo,” Ignacio told the Philippines News Agency.

She said once it enters PAR it will be locally named “Goring”, the seventh tropical cyclone to affect the country this year and third for the month of July. (PNA) JBP/CLTC