By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan
MANILA, July 7 (PNA) — Typhoon “Chan-Hom” (international name) still outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) is expected to enter the country Tuesday evening, according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Shaira Nonot said Typhoon “Cham-Hom” is forecast to enter the Philippine Area of Responsiblity (PAR) between 8-9 p.m. Tuesday.
She said once it enters the PAR, it will be locally named “Falcon”, the sixth tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the second for the month of July.
Nonot said the typhoon will not directly affect the country but will enhance the southwest monsoon that will induce rains in most parts of the country including Metro Manila.
As of 4 p.m., the eye of typhoon “Chan-Hom” was located based on all available data at 1,495 km East of Luzon (18.5N, 135.8E) with maximum sustained winds of 130 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph. It is forecast to move West Northwest at 20 kph.
Nonot said with its speed and movement, the typhoon is expected to exit PAR by Thursday evening or Friday morning heading towards Taiwan.
For the next 24 hours forecast, southwest monsoon will affect Luzon and monsoon rains may trigger flashfloods and landslides to be experienced over the regions of Ilocos, Cordillera, Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), and the provinces of Bataan and Zambales.
Occasional rains is expected over Metro Manila and the rest of Central Luzon while partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of the country.
Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will also prevail over the entire archipelago with moderate to rough seas.
The state weather bureau also issued a gale warning as strong to gale force winds associated with the Southwest Monsoon enhanced by Tropical Storm “Egay” to affect the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the Western seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon will be rough to very rough.
”Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” it warned. (PNA)