Bagyong Falcon 'moving away' from the Philippines - PAGASA

Bagyong Falcon (Tropical Storm FAlcon) has acquired more strength and has accelerated as it continuously moves away from the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said via its bulletin on Friday.

Bagyong Falcon was last spotted at 590 km North Northeast of Basco, Batanes at 4 a.m.

The bulletin added that Tropical Storm Falcon is still expected to "enhance the Southwest Monsoon and bring occasional rains over Luzon particularly over the western sections of Northern and Central Luzon. "

Moving at a rate of 24kph in a North Northwest direction, the weather disturbance now has maximum sustained winds of 105 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph.

Meanwhile here's PAGASA's 24-hour weather outlook for June 25, 2011:

English:

Northern and Central Luzon will experience monsoon rains which may trigger flashfloods and landslides while the Southern Tagalog Region will have cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the Southwest will prevail over Northern and Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog Region and coming from the Southeast to Southwest over the rest of the country. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough.

Filipino:

Ang Kalakhang Maynila ay makakaranas ng mga pag-ulan dulot ng Habagat. Katamtaman hanggang sa malakas na hangin mula sa Timog-kanluran ang iiral at ang Look ng Maynila ay magiging katamtaman hanggang sa maalon. Ang tinatayang agwat ng temperatura ay mula 24 hanggang 28 antas ng Celsius (75°F hanggang 82°F).

Ang Hilaga at Gitnang Luzon ay makakaranas ng mga pag-ulan dulot ng habagat na maaring magdulot ng mga pagbaha at pagguho ng lupa samantalang ang Timog Katagalugan ay magkakaroon ng maulap na kalangitan na may kalat-kalat na pag-ulan at pagkidlat-pagkulog. Ang nalalabing bahagi ng Katimugang Luzon ang Kabisayaan at ang Mindanao ay magiging bahagya hanggang sa maulap na may pulu-pulong pag-ulan o pagkidlat- pagkulog lalo na sa dakong hapon o gabi.

Katamtaman hanggang sa malakas na hangin mula sa Timog-kanluran ang iiral sa Hilaga at Gitnang Luzon at sa Timog Katagalugan at mula naman sa Timog-silangan hanggang Timog-kanluran sa nalalabing bahagi ng bansa. Ang mga baybaying-dagat sa buong kapuluan ay magiging katamtaman hanggang sa maalon.

Since heavy rains and flashfloods are still being experienced in Metro Manila, several universities and colleges have suspended Saturday classes. Check out the details here: http://noypistuff.blogspot.com/2011/06/metro-manila-universities-suspend.html

Bagyong Falcon (Tropical Storm Falcon) now "threatens Extreme Northern Luzon", the *PAGASA said.

Tropical Storm "Falcon", according to the latest PAGASA bulletin, has maintained its strength and is now moving West Northwestward at 19 kph, threatening North Luzon. It has maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

As of 10:00 p.m. on June 22, "Falcon" is at 290 km East Northeast of Virac, Catanduanes.

The PAGASA has now issued Public Storm Warning Signal Number 1 (PSWS # 1) over the following areas:

Isabela,
Cagayan,
Calayan Group of Islands,
Babuyan Group of Islands,and
Batanes Group of Islands.

The weather bureau also warns people residing in low lying and mountainous areas under PSWS # 1 of possible flashfloods and landslides. PAGASA also added that the tropical storm is expected to "enhance the southwest monsoon and will bring rains over Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao."

Gale Warning has also been issued by the PAGASA over the eastern seaboard of the country and the western seaboard of Luzon and of Visayas.

Is "Falcon" going to make a landfall? According to this illustration of Falcon's track forecast by the PAGASA, it is unlikely.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Tropical Depression Falcon was spotted at 670 km East of Borongan, Easter Samar at 10 a.m. on June 21, 2011. It has maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and is moving at a rate of 19kph in a West Northwest direction

On Wednesday morning, the weather disturbance is expected at 440 kms East of Virac, Catanduanes and at 420 km East Northeast of Casiguran, Aurora on Thursday morning. On morning of Friday, PAGASA forecasts Falcon to be at 350 km East Basco, Batanes.

The weather bureau added that Tropical Depression Falcon as well as Egay which is still not so far away from the country, are expected to bring occasional rains over the country which will be more widespread over West Luzon.