Falcon gains strength, will become a typhoon on Sunday

Tropical Storm Falcon has gained strength as it moves northward over the Philippine Sea, the state weather bureau PAGASA said in its 5 p.m. bulletin on Saturday. 

Last seen 1,205 kilometers east of Central Luzon, Falcon has maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 km/h.

It was moving northward at 20 km/h.

PAGASA said raising tropical cyclone wind signals remains unlikely, but the enhanced Southwest Monsoon will bring gusty conditions over the following areas:

Saturday: Zambales, Bataan, Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Romblon, and most of Calabarzon, Bicol Region and Western Visayas.

Sunday: Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Romblon, Northern Samar, and most of Calabarzon, Bicol Region and Western Visayas.

Monday: Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Romblon, Northern Samar, and most of Calabarzon, Bicol Region and Western Visayas.  

A gale warning is in effect over coastal waters along the western seaboard of Luzon and Visayas, which means sea travel is risky for small vessels.

''Falcon is forecast to steadily intensify within the next three days. It is forecast to become a typhoon tomorrow afternoon or evening and reach its peak intensity on late Monday or early Tuesday,'' PAGASA said.

The tropical cyclone is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility between Monday evening and Tuesday morning. — Jiselle Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News