TROPICAL Depression Falcon, which is expected to make landfall over Babuyan-Batanes Islands area Wednesday evening, July 17, may intensify into a tropical storm within 24 hours, said the state weather bureau.
In its 11 a.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Falcon continues to move westward over the Philippine sea.
As of 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 16, it was located at 510 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, packing maximum winds of up to 55 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center and gusts of up to 70 km/h. It was moving west at 30 km/h.
Pagasa said the tropical depression may exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Friday, July 19.
In the meantime, with Falcon moving west, Pagasa raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 1 over Luzon, particularly northern Isabela, Cagayan (including Babuyan Islands) and Batanes.
The weather bureau said that today until Wednesday morning, July 17, moderate to heavy rains will be experienced over Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan (including Calamian and Cuyo Islands), Panay Island, and Guimaras.
Meanwhile, light to moderate with at times heavy rains will be experienced over the rest of Luzon and Visayas, it added.
"Tomorrow morning until Thursday (July 18) morning, moderate to heavy rains may prevail over Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan, Isabela, Zambales and Occidental Mindoro, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains may prevail over Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and the rest of Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Mimaropa," Pagasa said.
It advised residents in the aforementioned areas, especially those living in areas identified to be at risk of flooding and landslides, to take precautionary measures, coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and continue monitoring for updates, especially the Thunderstorm Advisories and Heavy Rainfall Warnings to be issued by the agency's Regional Services Divisions.
Fisherfolk and those with small seacrafts were also advised not to venture out over the seaboards of areas under TCWS Number 1 and the eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. (LMY/SunStar Philippines)