By Catherine J. Teves
MANILA, July 9 (PNA) — Government forecasts improved weather condition in the country after Sunday (July 12).
State weather agency Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) based such forecast on expected landfall of typhoon “Falcon” (international name “Chan-Hom”) in southern China that day.
“If such happens, the southwest monsoon will weaken so we can expect weather to start improving,” said PAGASA forecaster Gener Quitlong.
“Falcon” is enhancing the southwest monsoon or “habagat” prevailing in the country at present, he noted.
Moderate to occasionally heavy rainfall from the enhanced “habagat” is expected until this weekend in the western seaboard of Luzon and the Visayas, he continued.
He said “Falcon” will weaken upon striking southern China so this typhoon’s effect on “habagat” will decrease.
PAGASA still sees no indication the tropical cyclone following “Falcon” — a typhoon with international name “Nangka” located some 2,600 kilometers from the country at present — will move westward, enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and affect the country.
“Nangka” is the third of three successive tropical cyclones in the Pacific this month.
In its 5 p.m. 24-hour public weather forecast released Thursday (July 9), PAGASA located “Falcon” at 750 kilometers east-northeast of Batanes province’s Itbayat municipality as of 4 p.m. of the same day.
“Falcon” then packed maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour near its center and gustiness of up to 170 kph, noted PAGASA.
“The typhoon is forecast to move northwest at 22 kilometers per hour,” PAGASA also said.
PAGASA earlier forecast “Falcon” to be outside the PAR by Friday (July 10) at 620 kilometers north-northeast of Itbayat. (PNA)