Weather: ‘Falcon’ intensifies, merges with LPA

Tropical storm “Falcon" (international name: Meari) has slightly intensified after it merged with a low pressure area off the coast of Catanduanes province, the state weather bureau said on Thursday afternoon. In its 5 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Falcon now packs 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph. "After makipagsanib sa LPA, siya ay lumakas nang bahagya pero ang direksyon nananatiling northwest (After it merged with a nearby LPA, it gained some strength but is still moving northwestward)," said PAGASA forecaster Marino Mendoza in an interview on dzRH radio. The weather disturbance was last spotted 420 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora, and is currently moving northwest at 15 kilometers per hour (kph). At its current speed, Falcon is expected to be 270 kilometers east northeast of Aparri in Cagayan province by Friday afternoon and 320 north northeast of Basco, Batanes by Saturday afternoon. By Sunday afternoon it is expected to be 740 km north-northeast of Basco, Batanes or 140 km northwest of Okinawa, Japan. "Nasa labas na siya ng Philippine area of responsibility (On Sunday afternoon we expect it to exit the Philippine area of responsibility)," Mendoza said. PAGASA likewise said that although Falcon is still unlikely to make landfall, the storm is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon and will bring rain over southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Nine areas are now under public storm signal number 1: