MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Inday (international name: Muifa) maintained its strength as it moves north northwestward, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Sunday afternoon.
According to Pagasa, Inday is currently located 360 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 165 kilometers per hour (kph) with gustiness of 205 kph.
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Despite its strength, Pagasa said Inday is unlikely to directly bring heavy rain in the country throughout the forecast period.
“However, its outermost rainbands and the southwest monsoon may bring rain showers and thunderstorms over Batanes and the western sections of Central and Southern Luzon,” it said.
Meanwhile, the strengthened southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” will bring partly cloudy to overcast skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms in Metro Manila as well as in the rest of the country on Monday.
A gale warning, meanwhile, remains in effect over the seaboards of Batanes and the Babuyan Islands.
Inday is currently moving north northwestward at 10 kph and is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Tuesday.