Falcon intensifies into tropical storm
Signal No. 2 is raised in the northeastern part of Cagayan and more areas are placed under Signal No. 1 due to Tropical Storm Falcon (Danas) on Tuesday afternoon, July 16
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MANILA, Philippines – Falcon intensified from a tropical depression into a tropical storm at 2 pm on Tuesday, July 16. It has been given the international name Danas, a name contributed by the Philippines to the list of international names for tropical cyclones.
In a bulletin issued 5 pm on Tuesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Tropical Storm Falcon (Danas) is already 335 kilometers east southeast of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.
It is still moving west at a relatively fast 30 kilometers per hour (km/h).
Falcon now has maximum winds of 65 km/h from the previous 55 km/h and gustiness of up to 80 km/h from the previous 70 km/h. (READ: FAST FACTS: Tropical cyclones, rainfall advisories)
Signal No. 2 is now raised in:
northeastern part of Cagayan including Babuyan Group of Islands
Signal No. 1, meanwhile, is up over more areas:
rest of Cagayan
Batanes
northern part of Ilocos Norte
nothern part of Abra
Apayao
Kalinga
Isabela
eastern part of Mountain Province
eastern part of Ifugao
PAGASA warned that Falcon could closely approach or make landfall over the Batanes-Babuyan area on Wednesday evening, July 17.
The tropical storm also continues to enhance the southwest monsoon or hanging habagat, which is triggering rain as well.
Below is the latest on the expected rainfall:
Tuesday, July 16, until Wednesday afternoon, July 17
Moderate to heavy rain
Ilocos Region
Cordillera Administrative Region
Cagayan Valley
Nueva Ecija
Aurora
Zambales
Occidental Mindoro
northern part of Palawan including Calamian and Cuyo islands
Aklan
Antique
Capiz
Iloilo
Guimaras
Light to heavy rain
Metro Manila
Calabarzon
Bicol
rest of Central Luzon
rest of Mimaropa
rest of the Visayas
Wednesday afternoon, July 17, until Thursday afternoon, July 18
Moderate to heavy rain
Ilocos Region
Cordillera Administrative Region
Cagayan Valley
Light to heavy rain
Metro Manila
Central Luzon
Calabarzon
Mimaropa
Flash floods and landslides are possible in areas affected by Falcon and the enhanced southwest monsoon.
Classes have been suspended in some areas for Wednesday. (READ: #WalangPasok: Class suspensions, Wednesday, July 17, 2019)
Sea travel is also risky in the seaboards of areas under Signal Nos. 1 and 2, and in the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and the Visayas.
Falcon is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday, July 19.
The Philippines gets an average of 20 tropical cyclones annually, but since 2019 is an El Niño year, only 14 to 18 tropical cyclones are expected.
Below is the estimated number of tropical cyclones from July to December:
July - 2 or 3
August - 2 to 4
September - 2 to 4
October - 2 or 3
November - 1 or 2
December - 0 or 1
PAGASA declared the start of the rainy season last June 14. – Rappler.com
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