Inday maintains strength; 12 Northern Luzon areas under Signal No. 1

MANILA, Philippines — Super Typhoon Inday maintained its strength with Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No.1 hoisted over 12 areas in Northern Luzon on Wednesday afternoon, the state weather bureau said. 

In its 5 p.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that Inday was last seen 1,170 kilometers east of Northern Luzon as of 4 p.m. It was moving westward at 20 kilometers per hour (kph).

READ: More areas in N. Luzon under Signal No. 1 as Inday enters PAR

It was still carrying a maximum wind speed of 195 kph and gustiness of up to 240 kph. Pagasa then noted that Inday will maintain its super typhoon category until Thursday and is forecast to weaken into a typhoon by Thursday evening or early Friday morning. 

It was also forecast to move generally west-northwestward over the next 12 hours, then turn northwestward while remaining over the Philippine Sea, and may approach Extreme Northern Luzon by Friday evening or Saturday morning before heading towards the southern islands of Japan and the sea north of Taiwan. 

Inday is then forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Saturday. 

Meanwhile, Pagasa said that TCWS No. 1 is raised over the following areas:

• Ilocos Norte
• Apayao
• Northern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lagayan, Danglas, San Juan, Lagangilang, Licuan-Baay, Malibcong, Lacub, Daguioman, Dolores, La Paz)
• Kalinga 
• Eastern portion of Mountain Province (Natonin, Paracelis)
• Eastern portion of Ifugao (Aguinaldo, Alfonso, Lista)
• Banates
• Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
• Isabela
• Northeastern portion of Quirino (Maddela)
• Northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran)
• Northern and central portions of Catanduanes (Pandan, Caramoran, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Gigmoto, Baras, and San Miguel)

Under this wind signal, Pagasa noted that wind speeds range from 39 to 61 kph and warned of “minimal to minor threat to life and property.”

It also said that the highest TCWS that may be hoisted throughout the super typhoon’s passage is Wind Signal No. 2 or 3. 

It added that the enhanced southwest monsoon and the periphery of Inday will bring strong to gale-force gusts over the following areas:

• Wednesday: Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Calabarzon, most of Mimaropa, Bicol Region, most of Visayas, and most of Mindanao
• Thursday: Most of the country
• Friday: Most of the country

Pagasa also shared that gale warning is raised over the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon, and the eastern seaboard of Visayas. /mr