Khanun maintains strength, accelerates north northwestward direction

Tropical Storm Khanun maintained its strength as it accelerates north northwestward, PAGASA said Friday.

In its 11 a.m. advisory, PAGASA said the center of Tropical Storm Khanun was estimated based on all available data at 1,345 km east of Eastern Visayas (12.6°N, 137.0°E) (outside of the Philippine Area of Responsibility), packing maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 80 km/h, and central pressure of 1000 hPa.

It was moving north northwestward at 25 km/h, according to PAGASA.

Meanwhile, its strong to gale-force winds extend outwards up to 570 km from the center.

PAGASA said Khanun is forecast to move generally north northwestward until Sunday afternoon over the Philippine Sea.

On the track forecast, the tropical cyclone may enter the PAR region between Saturday late evening and Sunday morning, and will be assigned the domestic name “Falcon.”

Falcon is forecast to become a typhoon Saturday late evening or on Sunday early morning and reach its peak intensity by late Monday or early Tuesday.

However, PAGASA said the hoisting of wind signal over any portion of the country due to Falcon is unlikely.

Falcon may also enhance the Southwest Monsoon, which will trigger occasional or monsoon rains over the western portions of Luzon and Visayas beginning Saturday or Sunday.

However, the magnitude, extent, and timing of monsoon enhancement and resulting rainfall may still change due to dependence of Southwest Monsoon enhancement on the intensity and movement of this tropical cyclone. — RSJ GMA Integrated News