WORLD
'Falcon' boosts habagat monsoon rains VIDEO
Baku, July 8, AZERTAC
Typhoon 'Falcon' (international name Chan-Hom) entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) Tuesday night and is seen to enhance the southwest monsoon or "habagat."
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecasted on Wednesday that Luzon will experience monsoon rains which may trigger flash floods and landslides over Mindoro, Palawan, Zambales and Bataan.
Meanwhile, Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cordillera and Western Visayas are expected to experience light to moderate rains and thunderstorms.
The eye of the typhoon was located 1,250 kilometers (km) east northeast of Calayan, Cagayan at 10 a.m., packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 160 kph. It has maintained its strength and is likely to move west northwest at 20 kph.
The estimated rainfall amount is from heavy to intense within the 300 km radius of the typhoon, PAGASA said.
According to PAGASA, the typhoon will not make landfall and will not directly affect the country. No public storm warning signals are raised in any part of the country.
"Falcon" is expected to exit PAR by Thursday evening or Friday morning.