‘Falcon’ Leaves PHL But Monsoon Rains to Continue — PAGASA

(PNA) — Typhoon “Falcon” may have left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) early Friday but it continues to enhance the southwest monsoon that will induce rains in most parts of the country, according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said as of 4 a.m. the eye of typhoon “Falcon” was located 750 km east, 675 km northeast of Itbayat, Batanes (25.4°N, 126.1°E) outside the PAR with maximum sustained winds of 160 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 195 kph. It is forecast to move northwest at 22 kph.

He said the typhoon is not expected to recurve or return to the country as it moves towards China.

He added typhoon “Chan-Hom” (international name) is expected to make landfall in southern China — if this happens the southwest monsoon will weaken and only then the weather is expected to start improving.

He said Falcon will weaken once it makes a landfall in southern China and so it’s effect on “habagat” will decrease.

Aurelio said Falcon continues to enhance the southwest monsoon or “habagat” now prevailing in the country.

Meanwhile, Aurelio said a typhoon with international name “Nangka” which is still outside PAR has slim chance to enter the country but the agency continues to monitor it.

“Nangka” is the third of three successive tropical cyclones in the Pacific this month.

Once it enters the PAR, it will be locally named “Goring”, the seventh tropical cyclone to affect the country this year.

For Friday forecast, PAGASA said typhoon Falcon-enhanced southwest monsoon will continue to affect Luzon and Western Visayas. This means more monsoon rains are expected which may trigger flash floods and landslides over Metro Manila, the regions of Ilocos, Cordillera, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Mimaropa.

Occasional rains are expected over 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.

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 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. (PNA) JBP/CLTC