‘Falcon’ makes landfall in Cagayan,  storm signals up in parts of PH-Pagasa

SIGNAL No. 2 was raised over parts of extreme Northern Luzon as tropical storm “Falcon” made landfall in Gattaran, Cagayan on Wednesday, the state-run weather bureau said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), as of 4 a.m., spotted the eye of the storm on the coastal waters of Aparri, Cagayan.

It was moving in a west-northwest direction and has slightly gained speed from 30 per hour (kph) to 35 kilometers kph. It is carrying maximum winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

Signal 2 was raised over Apayao, Batanes, and Cagayan including the Babuyan Group of Islands with expected winds of 61 kph to 120 kph. Signal 1 was raised over Ilocos Norte, Abra, Kalinga, Isabela, Mountain Province, Ifugao, northern portion of Aurora, northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, and northern portion of Quirino.

Meanwhile, extreme flood advisory was raised over Cagayan, Isabela, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Albay, Masbate, Sorsogon, Capiz, Aklan, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Antique, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Negros Oriental, Cebu and Bohol.

Severe flood advisory was up in Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Bataan, Aurora, Zambales, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Batangas, Rizal, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan and Marinduque.

Gale warning was raised over Aurora, western coast of Palawan, southern portion of Mindoro provinces, Romblon, Burias Island, Camarines Provinces, Catanduanes, eastern coast of Albay, eastern coast of Sorsogon, eastern coast of Quezon including Polilio Island, eastern seaboard of Samar, Leyte, Negros Occidental, Guimaras, Aklan, Antique.

Pagasa said moderate to heavy rains were expected over Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, northern Palawan including Calamian and Cuyo Islands, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, and Guimaras.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains will be experienced over Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, and the rest of Visayas, and the rest of Mimaropa.

Pagasa weather specialist Ezra Bulquerin said Falcon was expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Friday morning but monsoon rains would still prevail over Western Luzon and Visayas due to the enhanced southwest monsoon.