TROPICAL Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 1 has been lifted over at least five areas in Luzon, as Falcon (Danas) continues to move north northwestward Wednesday morning, July 17.
A low pressure area was spotted, though, at 125 kilometers west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur, as of 10 a.m. Wednesday.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said TCWS Number 1 has been lifted over Abra, Kalinga, Isabela, Mountain Province and Ifugao.
TCWS 2, however, remained hoisted over Batanes, while Apayao, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, and Babuyan group of Islands were placed under TCWS 1.
Pagasa said Tropical Storm Falcon has maintained its strength. As of 10 .m. Wednesday, July 17, its eye was located at 195 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan, with maximum sustained winds of up to 65 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center and gusts of up to 80 km/h. It is moving north northwest at 20 km/h.
The weather bureau said moderate to times heavy rains will be experienced over Isabela, La Union, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, northern Palawan including Calamian and Cuyo Islands, Aklan, and Antique Wednesday.
Meanwhile, light to moderate with at times heavy rains will be experienced over Metro Manila, and the rest of Luzon and of Visayas.
On Thursday, July 18, moderate to occasionally heavy rains may prevail over Ilocos Region, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, and light to moderate with at times heavy rains may prevail over the rest of Luzon.
Pagasa warned 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 on the storm.
It said sea travel is risky over the seaboards of areas under TCWS, the eastern seaboard of Luzon, the western and southern seaboard of Southern Luzon, and the western seaboard of Visayas.
It added that Falcon may exit the Philippine area of responsibility Friday morning, July 19. (LMY/SunStar Philippines)