Weather: ‘Falcon’ slows down; new LPA spotted off Catanduanes

Tropical storm “Falcon" (international name: Meari) has slowed down but maintained its strength at it continues to move east of the Philippines, the state weather bureau said on Thursday morning. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), in its 11 a.m. bulletin on Thursday, said the weather disturbance is currently moving northwest at 13 kilometers per hour (kph)—slower than its 19-kph speed recorded at 8 a.m. The storm however maintained its strength, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph. Aside from Falcon, state weather forecasters are also monitoring a new low pressure area developing 550 kilometers northeast of Virac, Catanduanes. PAGASA likewise said that although Falcon is still unlikely to make landfall, the storm is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon and will bring rains over southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. At its current speed, Falcon is expected to be 290 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City in Cagayan province by Friday morning and 150 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes by Saturday morning. Public storm signal number 1 remained hoisted over the following areas: