Luzon residents told to brace for heavy rains

MANILA, Philippines — The state weather bureau yesterday warned residents of Luzon to brace for heavy rains and flooding as Tropical Depression Falcon intensified into a storm yesterday afternoon.

Falcon moved closer to extreme Northern Luzon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

The weather disturbance is expected to pass near or make landfall over the Babuyan-Batanes area tonight.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 was raised over the northeastern portion of  Cagayan, including Babuyan Group of Islands, as of 5 p.m. yesterday.

Signal No. 1 was hoisted over Batanes, the rest of Cagayan, northern portion of Ilocos Norte, Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, Isabela and eastern portion of Mountain Province and Ifugao.

Signal No. 1 was also expected to be raised over the northern portions of Aurora, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya and the rest of Abra, Mountain Province and Ifugao in the next 24 hours.

As of 4 p.m., the center of Falcon was spotted at 335 kilometers east southeast of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, packing winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph. It was forecast to move west at 30 kph.

Moderate to heavy rains will continue over the Ilocos region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Zambales, Occidental Mindoro, northern Palawan including Calamian and Cuyo Islands, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo and Guimaras until this afternoon.  –  With Cet Dematera, Gilbert Bayoran, Rudy Santos, Sheila Crisostomo,  Jaime Laude