Falcon maintains strength, Habagat to bring rains over western Luzon, Visayas

Typhoon Falcon (international name: Khanun) maintained its strength on Monday and will continue to enhance the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat which will bring occasional to monsoon rains in the western portion of Luzon and Visayas in the next three days, PAGASA said.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Falcon was estimated to be located at 1,045 kilometers east of Extreme Northern Luzon packing maximum sustained winds of 150 km per hour, with gustiness of up to 185 km/h.

The typhoon was moving north northwestward at 15 km/h.

PAGASA said that forecast rainfall is generally higher in elevated or mountainous areas.

It warned of possible flooding and rain-induced landslides especially in areas that are prone to such hazards and areas with considerable amounts of rainfall for the past several days.

While the raising of any Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal is unlikely, PAGASA said the enhanced Habagat will bring gusty conditions in Zambales, Bataan, the central and southern portions of Aurora, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, most of Ilocos Region, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, and Western Visayas on Monday.

Moderate to rough seas up to 3.5 meters are expected over the coastal waters along the northern, western, and southern seaboards of Luzon.

PAGASA advised mariners of small seacraft to take precautionary measures. If inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels, they should avoid navigating in these conditions, PAGASA said.

Falcon is expected to slightly accelerate north northwestward or northwestward over the Philippine Sea in the next 24 hours, PAGASA said. It will then turn west northwestward on Tuesday afternoon.

The typhoon may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) between Tuesday afternoon and evening.

Outside the PAR, Falcon is forecast turning west northwestward passing close to or making a landfall over Okinawa Islands in the Ryukyu Archipelago in Japan between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning while gradually decelerating.

The typhoon may further intensify over the next one or two days and may reach its peak intensity on Tuesday or on Wednesday, PAGASA said.

Classes for Monday have been canceled in some areas due to the lingering effects of Typhoon Egay and the effects of Falcon. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA Integrated News