No expected Luzon landfall for 'Falcon'

Naga City Philippines (June 23, 2011 8:00 A.M.) - A large Tropical Storm, Falcon covers a wide area 740 kilometer in diameter. So while Luzon provinces are considered to be out of harms's way of a direct hit, the storm can come with heavy rains that cause damaging floods in low lying areas.

It's outer rainbands affect the Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas where moderate to strong winds (30-61 kph) are expected. Total 24-hour rainfall accumulation can reach as high as 380 mm along Falcon's western circulation near Catanduanes.

Areas as far as Palawan, Visayas and Mindanao can experience widespread rains as Falcon sucks the Southwest monsoon.

Residents of Central and Northern Luzon,Batanes-Calayan-Babuyan Islands, Yaeyama-Okinawa-Ryukyu Islands, and Taiwan are advised to closely monitor the storm's progress.

At 6:00 A.M. today, the eye of the storm was located 385 kilometers East Northeast of Pandan, Catanduanes or 505 kilometers East Northeast of Naga City at coordinates 14.8º North Latitude 127.7º East Longitude.

Falcon has slowed down to 13 kilometers as it moves Northwestward towards Taiwan-Yaeyama Area, packing sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center with gustiness up to 95 kilometers per hour. It is expected to intensify further within the next 24-48 hours.

Falcon shall be 515 kilometers East Northeast of Casiguran, Aurora this afternoon; 410 kilometers East Northeast of Aparri, Cagayan early tomorrow morning (Friday); and 250 kilometers East Northeast of Basco tomorrow afternoon (at near typhoon strength).

On Saturday morning, it is expected to be a full typhoon as it approaches the coast of Eastern Taiwan and the Yaeyama Group of Islands, passing about 205 km ESE of Hualien City.