Falcon-enhanced Habagat to bring rains in Luzon, Visayas for 3 days

Typhoon Falcon has intensified while moving north-northwestward over the Philippine Sea.

At 4 p.m., the eye of the typhoon was estimated based on all available data at 1,020 kilometers east-northeast of extreme northern Luzon. It is heading north-northwestward at 15 kilometers per hour (km/h) while packing maximum sustained winds of 165 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 205 km/h, and a central pressure of 940 hPa.

Strong to typhoon-force winds extend outwards up to 650 km from its center, PAGASA added.

The weather bureau did not issue any storm warning signal over any part of the country but the southwest monsoon (habagat) enhanced by the typhoon will bring occasional to monsoon rains over the western portion of Luzon and Visayas in the next three days.

“Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are expected especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps and in localities that experienced considerable amounts of rainfall for the past several days,” PAGASA warned.

The enhanced habagat is expected to bring gusty conditions over the following areas, especially in coastal and upland or mountainous areas exposed to winds: Zambales, Bataan, the central and southern portions of Aurora, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, and most of Ilocos Region, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, and Western Visayas.

Moderate to rough seas are also forecast over the coastal waters along the northern (1.2 meters to 2.8 meters ), western (2.5 meters to 3.5 meters), and southern (1.5 meters to 3.0 meters) seaboards of Luzon in the next 24 hours due to the enhanced habagat.

“Mariners of small seacrafts are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing over these waters. If inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels, avoid navigating in these conditions,” the weather bureau said.

On the forecast track, Falcon is seen to steadily move north-northwestward or northwestward in the next 12 hours then turn west-northwestward on Tuesday over the Philippine Sea.

The typhoon may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Tuesday afternoon or evening. Outside the PAR, Falcon will turn west-northwestward and pass close over Okinawa Islands in the Ryukyu Archipelago in Japan between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning while gradually decelerating.

Falcon is forecast to further intensify in the next 12 hours and reach its peak intensity while maintaining its strength as it tracks over Okinawa Islands in the Ryukyu Archipelago. —NB, GMA Integrated News