The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Friday, July 28 said a tropical storm spotted east of Luzon may enter the country’s area of responsibility within 12 hours.
The storm has an international name of Khanun, but it will be called Falcon once inside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).
In its 10 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the center of Khanun was last located 1,245 kilometers east-northeast of southeastern Luzon.
It has maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 80 kph, while moving north-northwestward at 20 kph.
(PAGASA)
PAGASA said Khanun may become a typhoon on Sunday, July 30, and continuously intensify over the next five days.
Although the hoisting of wind signal is unlikely because Khanun may remain far from the country, PAGASA warned that it may strengthen the southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” which will bring occasional rains to the western parts of Luzon and Visayas until next week.
“However, the magnitude, extent, and timing of monsoon enhancement and resulting rainfall may still change due to dependence of southwest monsoon enhancement on the intensity and movement of this tropical cyclone,” PAGASA said.
The storm will likely be outside the PAR by Monday, July 31.