Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 30) — Falcon further intensified into a typhoon while moving over the Philippine Sea, the state weather bureau said late Sunday evening.
No storm signals were raised but Falcon continues to enhance the southwest monsoon, or habagat, that is bringing rains over parts of Luzon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported in its 11 p.m. bulletin.
The western portion of Luzon may expect rains from the habagat in the next three days, according to PAGASA.
“Pag sinasabing typhoon category, umaabot hanggang Signal No. 4 ang tropical cyclone wind signal na maaaring itaas. Sa pagkakataong ito, walang nakataas dahil walang direktang epekto yung bagyong Falcon,” PAGASA weather specialist Obet Badrina said.
[Translation: Under the typhoon category, up to Signal No. 4 is the tropical cyclone wind signal that can be raised. In this case, none was raised because typhoon Falcon had no direct effect (to the country)]
PAGASA earlier reported that intense to torrential rains are likely in Zambales and Bataan, while heavy to intense rains are expected in Occidental Mindoro due to the habagat.
Metro Manila, Cavite, Pangasinan, Pampanga, Bulacan, the northern portion of Palawan may experience moderate to heavy rains.
PAGASA further said Falcon remains unlikely to make landfall in any part of the country throughout the forecast period.As of Sunday evening, Falcon was seen near the border of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and it may exit the country’s weather monitoring area on Monday evening or Tuesday morning, the state weather bureau added.A gale warning is also in effect over several coastal waters along the western seaboard of Luzon, PAGASA said.Falcon was last spotted 1,090 kilometers east of Extreme Northern Luzon, moving north-northwestward at 15 kilometers per hour (kph).It was packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph.
