The tropical storm with the international name Khanun has maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h early Friday, July 28
Tropical depression outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) has intensified into a tropical storm and was named Khanun. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced on Friday, July 28, 2023.
The tropical storm is located 1,315 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas and is moving west-southwest at 15 kilometers per hour. Khanun intensified due to favorable atmospheric conditions and is expected to bring more monsoon rain to the western parts of Luzon and the Visayas beginning Saturday or Sunday.
The PAGASA said in 5am advisory on Friday, Khanun was 1,315 km east of Eastern Visayas
The storm is seen to stay far from Philippine landmass, but PAGASA said shifts in its track are possible as its circulation “further consolidates.”
PAGASA said Khanun may continuously strengthen in the next five days. It could become a severe tropical storm in less than 24 hours and a typhoon late Saturday evening or early Sunday morning, just before its expected entry into PAR.
Khanun would then reach its peak intensity by late Monday, July 31, or early Tuesday, August 1.
While Khanun is unlikely to approach Philippine landmass, PAGASA warned that the storm might enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat, which could bring more rain to the western parts of Luzon and the Visayas beginning Saturday or Sunday.
Khanun is expected to enter PAR between late Saturday evening, July 29, and Sunday morning, July 30, and would be given the local name Falcon.
The southwest monsoon is bringing more rain to Luzon and the Visayas, with the heaviest rain expected in the Ilocos Region, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, and the northern part of Palawan.
The monsoon is still being enhanced by Typhoon Egay (Doksuri), which left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Thursday, July 27.
Metro Manila, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Calabarzon, the rest of Central Luzon, and the rest of Mimaropa will experience occasional rain, while Cagayan Valley and Western Visayas will have scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.
PAGASA advised residents in areas affected by the southwest monsoon to be on the lookout for flooding and landslides. – CHIKA MINUTE
