Super Typhoon Henry intensifies, swells after overwhelming LPA

MANILA, Philippines — Super Typhoon Henry (international name Hinnamnor) gained strength on Thursday, with maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour and a gustiness of up to 240 kilometers per hour, according to state meteorologists.

Henry, plotted 430 kilometers east-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, has overwhelmed former Tropical Depression Gardo, now downgraded to a low-pressure system. The low-pressure area did not dampen Super Typhoon Henry’s force, but the storm’s radius vastly expanded, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

“Bahagya itong lumakas dahil natapos na ang tinatawag nating eyewall replacement cycle, wherein dinadaanan talaga ito na stage ng isang malakas na bagyo, at inaasahan na natin na ma-maintain na niya ang kanyang intensity within the next 24 hours,” said Pagasa weather specialist Raymond Oridinario in a press briefing.

(It partially gained strength after what we call the eyewall replacement cycle, wherein it is a stage that strong typhoons go through. We expect it to maintain its intensity within the next 24 hours).

Henry is expected to bring light to moderate, with at times heavy rain over Batanes and Babuyan Islands this Thursday, according to a bulletin from state meteorologists.

The state weather bureau tracked Henry going south southwestward, moving at 25 kilometers per hour with strong typhoon-force winds extending up to 360 kilometers from its center.

Oridinario said that the super typhoon’s projected path is unusual, as Henry is going in a downward trajectory, coming from southern Japan into the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

Henry expected to stay almost stationary for the next 24 hours, east of Batanes.

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