MANILA, Philippines - Tropical depression “Falcon” intensified into a storm yesterday but is not expected to directly hit the country, the weather bureau said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the storm will bring rains over most parts of the country until Sunday.
PAGASA said Falcon (international name Meari) will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains over the eastern section of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
Rene Paciente, senior weather forecaster of PAGASA, said Metro Manila will also experience moderate rains until the weekend.
He said Falcon has slightly accelerated as it moved northwestward toward southern Japan.
“Falcon is not expected to make landfall but it could still intensify into a storm while over the sea,” Paciente said in a press briefing yesterday at the PAGASA office in Quezon City.
No storm warning signals were raised as of yesterday afternoon.
He said a ridge of high pressure area could affect the movement of the cyclone.
“As of now we do not expect the high pressure area to intensify,” he said.
As of 2 p.m. yesterday, the eye of Falcon was spotted at 370 kilometers east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
It was forecast to move west northwest at 19 kph.
PAGASA warned the public, particularly those living in coastal areas and fisherfolk, against big waves associated with tropical storms “Egay” (Haima) and Falcon.
Falcon is expected to be 380 kms east northeast of Casiguran, Aurora this morning; 360 kms northeast of Basco, Batanes by tomorrow morning; and 740 kms north northeast of Basco or 40 kms southwest of Okinawa, Japan by Saturday morning.
By Helen Flores, The Philippine Star
With Marianne Go
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