MANILA - The state weather bureau, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) indicated by early evening Thursday that its weather forecasters expect Typhoon Falcon (international name: Chan-hom) continuing to draw heavy rainfall from the southwest monsoon to large areas of the Philippine archipelago, especially to Luzon Island.
Being closely watched is the water level at La Mesa Dam, as it has remained at the Red Alert level since around noon. The intermittent raining episodes throughout the day has kept the water level hovering at the 79.69-meter mark, only 0.46 meters from its declared High Water Level mark.
Authorities have been trying to persuade communities living along Tullahan River to agree to pre-emptive evacuation measures due to the Red Alert status at La Mesa Dam.
More than 1,000 persons have been evacuated due to flooding in Valenzuela City, even as large areas of low-lying Malabon City and Bulacan province remained flooded. About 1,000 displaced residents were being accommodated at the Valenzuela National High School grounds.
Over at Marikina River, authorities kept up a non-stop vigil even though over the water level has not quite reached the danger level. City government officials did not waste time to prepare evacuation centers as well as pre-position rescue equipment along critical stretches of the river in case the river water rises.
In Caloocan City, a landslide was reported at Sitio Matarik due to ground that has been swelled and loosened by the heavy rain. Four homes were affected in the incident.
Traffic flow at various points of Metro Manila remained at slow pace due to flooded stretches and vehicular breakdowns.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority suspended operations of the Pasig River ferry service.
Following Typhoon Falcon is one more potentially strong weather disturbance, Typhoon Nangka, expected to make its effect felt starting early next week.
While Typhoon Falcon is out in the Pacific Ocean at around 750 kilometers east-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes and with no chance to make landfall, weather experts said the public should be concerned about the possibility that the enhanced monsoon rains may trigger flash floods and landslides.
PAGASA's Thursday evening forecast indicated that heavy monsoon rains may be experienced over the regions of Ilocos, Cordillera, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, CALABARZON and MIMAROPA.
"Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over the entire archipelago with moderate to rough seas," PAGASA said.
The outlook for the weekend is for more rain, hence the greater chances for potential landslides and mudslides to occur at sloping terrain whose topsoil have been saturated by several days of heavy rainfall, the weather forecasters said.
After Typhoon Falcon exits the Philippine Area of responsibility, expected between Saturday or Sunday, there is the possibility that it may strengthen into super typhoon category as it picks up more moisture across a wide expanse of the western Pacific Ocean heading toward Mainland China.
Next week, weathermen see the next storm, Typhoon Nangka, to follow in roughly the same track taken by Typhoon Falcon. The prognosis for early next week: More of the same intense southwest monsoon, this time influenced by Typhoon Nangka.