By Jose Cielito Reganit | Philippine News Agency
The enhanced southwest monsoon or “habagat” affecting Luzon and the Visayas due to the entry of Tropical Storm “Falcon” into the Philippine Area of Responsibility early Saturday will bring occasional to monsoon rains over a large part of the country, the weather bureau said.
In its 4:00 a.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said as of 3:00 a.m., the center of Falcon (international name Khanun) was estimated at 1,395 km east of Central Luzon, with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center, and gustiness of up to 80 kph, while moving west-northwestward at 15 kph.
PAGASA said the southwest monsoon will bring monsoon rains over Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro. Flooding or landslides due to scattered to widespread rains are possible in these areas.
The “habagat” will also bring occasional rains over Metro Manila, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, and Northern Palawan, including the Calamian and Cuyo islands.
Meanwhile, the trough of “Falcon” will bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Eastern Visayas and Caraga.
The Cordillera and Bicol regions, the rest of the Visayas, the rest of Central Luzon, the rest of Calabarzon, the rest of Ilocos, and the rest of Mimaropa will also experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon.
Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of the country.
The northern and western sections of Luzon will experience strong winds blowing southwest to south with rough seas.
The Visayas and the rest of Luzon will also have strong winds, blowing southwest with similar sea conditions.
Meanwhile, Mindanao will experience moderate to strong winds blowing south to southwest with moderate to rough seas.