By Arlie O. Calalo
July 28, 2023 20
THE state-run weather agency on Friday said the tropical depression outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) has developed into a tropical storm called "Khanun."
In a 5 a.m. advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Khanun was estimated at 1,315 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas.
Packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80kph, it is moving west-southwestward at 15kph, Pagasa said.
Based on its forecast track, the tropical cyclone may enter PAR between late Saturday evening and Sunday morning.
Once inside PAR, the domestic name "Falcon" will be assigned to this tropical cyclone, the state weather bureau said.
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It will be the sixth storm to hit the country this year and the third this month, it added.
Likely to continuously intensify within the next five days, it may further escalate into a typhoon late Saturday evening or early Sunday morning.
"However, the hoisting of storm signals over any portion of the country due to this tropical cyclone is unlikely," Pagasa said.
Moreover, Pagasa said this may enhance the southwest monsoon locally known as "habagat," which will trigger occasional or monsoon rains across the country particularly over the western portions of Luzon and Visayas.
Meanwhile, Pagasa said that all storm signals have been lifted as Typhoon "Egay" exited PAR as it entered the Taiwan Strait and headed for Fujian, China.
