Typhoon Henry moving away from PH; Rainy, cloudy Saturday expected
MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Henry (international name: Hinnamnor) is swirling away from the country but will still trigger moderate to heavy rainfall in Batanes, Babuyan Islands and other parts of Luzon on Saturday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
In its early morning update, Pagasa said “Henry”, as of 3:00 a.m., was spotted some 355 kilometers east-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph) while slowly moving north.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 2 is still up over Batanes. The Babuyan Islands and Santa Ana, Cagayan, are under TCWS Number 1.
“Typhoon Henry will continue gradually accelerating northward throughout the weekend before turning north northeastward on Monday. On the track forecast, the typhoon may pass very close or make landfall in the southern islands of the Ryukyu Archipelago tonight and exit the Philippine area of Responsibility (PAR) tonight or tomorrow early morning,” Pagasa said.
“In the next 24 hours, the southwest monsoon enhanced by this typhoon will also bring monsoon rains over the western section of Luzon. Tropical cyclone winds may reach gale-force strength in any areas where Signal no. 2 is hoisted and strong wind strength (strong breeze to near gale) will be experienced within any of the areas where Signal no. 1 is currently in effect,” the state weather bureau added.
Saturday weather outlook
While stormy weather conditions are forecast in Batanes, Babuyan Islands and Santa Ana in Cagayan, cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the trough of the typhoon and the southwest monsoon will prevail in Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, the rest of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) and Occidental Mindoro.
The rest of the country, meantime, will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers due to localized thunderstorms.
Rough seas; flood and landslide alert
Rough sea conditions are expected in Northern and Central Luzon, while flash floods and landslides are also possivble in rain-affected areas, warned Pagasa.
“A gale warning is in effect for the seaboards of Northern Luzon and eastern seaboard of Central Luzon. In the next 24 hours, ‘Henry’ may bring moderate to rough seas over the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon (1.2 to 3.0 m). These conditions may be risky for those using small seacrafts. Mariners are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions,” Pagasa said.
The weather bureau added that “isolated to scattered flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides are possible especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazard as identified in hazard maps, and in localities with significant antecedent rainfall.”
