Tropical depression moving west; Signal No. 1 over 5 areas

Tropical depression “Henry” slightly accelerated on Monday as it moved west towards extreme northern Luzon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

In its 8 a.m. bulletin, Pagasa said Henry was last spotted at 440 kilometers (km) East of Aparri, Cagayan, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 65 kph

Pagasa raised Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal 1 over Batanes, the northern portion of Cagayan, including the Babuyan Group of Islands; the northern portion of Apayao, and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte.

Henry is expected to pass by the vicinity of the Babuyan island group tonight, July 16.

Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon (habagat) will bring rain over Metro Manila, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, the Mindoro provinces, Palawan and the Western Visayan Region.

Scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms are forecast over the rest of Luzon.

Residents of these areas, especially those living in low-lying and mountainous areas, are advised to continue monitoring weather updates, coordinate with their local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and take appropriate action against possible flooding and landslides.

The agency warned of risky sea travel in areas under the cyclone warning, as well as over the seaboard of Western Luzon. /cbb