The combined effects of tropical storm “Falcon” (international name “Danas”), the southwest monsoon or “habagat,” and a new low-pressure area west of Ilocos Sur will continue to bring rains with varying intensities over some parts of Luzon today.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration estimated the location of Falcon at 195 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan at around noon yesterday. It has maintained maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 80 kph, after making landfall over Gattaran, Cagayan around 12:30 a.m. yesterday.
PAGASA weather specialist Loriedin dela Cruz said tropical cyclone warning signal No. 1 has been lifted over Abra, Kalinga, Isabela, Mountain Province, and Ifugao. Signal No. 2 remains raised over Batanes and Signal No. 1 is still hoisted over Apayao, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, and Babuyan Group of Islands.
Dela Cruz said rains with varying intensities will still be felt due to Falcon, southwest monsoon, and the LPA 125 kms west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur.
Moderate to at times heavy rains continued over Isabela, La Union, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, northern Palawan including Calamian and Cuyo Islands, Aklan, and Antique yesterday. Light to moderate with at times heavy rains were felt in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon and Visayas.
Today, moderate to occasionally heavy rains may prevail over Ilocos egion, Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro while light to moderate with at times heavy rains may prevail over the rest of Luzon.
Dela Cruz said that while fewer areas will experience rains today, the public should still remain vigilant for possible flash floods or landslides, especially in low-lying or mountainous areas. She added that sea travel remains risky over the seaboards of areas with tropical cyclone warnings, eastern coast of Luzon, western and southern coastlines of Southern Luzon, and western seaboard of Visayas.
Should it maintain its north-northwest movement at 20 kph, Dela Cruz said Falcon will be outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility tomorrow.
The LPA will likely maintain its strength as it moves outside the country’s vicinity.
Falcon and the habagat seem to have failed to contribute to the gradual recovery of the Angat Dam as significant rains have not reached the Angat watershed in Norzagaray, Bulacan.
The water level at Angat Dam was down by 31 centimeters from 158.69 meters last Tuesday to 158.38 meters yesterday. Its current level is just 82 centimeters short of its 157.56-meter record-low registered in July 18, 2010. (Ellalyn Ruiz)