Signal No. 2 up in Batanes as Inday moves over PH Sea
MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 has been raised over Batanes province as Typhoon Inday moves northwestward over the Philippine Sea, the state weather bureau reported on Thursday.
In its 11 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Inday was last spotted 865 kilometers east of Northern Luzon, moving northwestward over the Philippine Sea at 15 kilometers per hour (kph).
The typhoon has slightly weakened, now packing a maximum sustained wind speed of 165 kph near the center (down from 175 kph in the weather bureau’s 5 a.m. bulletin), with gusts up to 205 kph (lower than the 215 kph in the last update).
READ: Coast Guard suspends sea travel in Surigao Norte due to Inday
Aside from TCWS No. 2, TCWS No. 1 has also been raised over the following areas in Luzon:
- Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
- Isabela
- The northeastern portion of Quirino (Maddela)
- Apayao
- The northern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lagayan, Danglas, San Juan, Lagangilang, Licuan-Baay, Malibcong, Lacub, Daguioman, Dolores, La Paz)
- Kalinga
- The eastern portion of Mountain Province (Natonin, Paracelis)
- The eastern portion of Ifugao (Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista)
- Ilocos Norte
- The northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran)
- The northern and central portions of Catanduanes (Pandan, Caramoran, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Gigmoto, Baras, San Miguel)
READ: LIST: Canceled ferry trips on Thursday due to Inday
Inday is forecast to generally move northwestward while remaining over the Philippine Sea and may pass closest to Extreme Northern Luzon between Friday evening and Saturday morning, Pagasa said.
Afterwards, the typhoon is expected to move toward the southern islands of Japan and may make landfall or pass close to the northern coast of Taiwan.
Inday is forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Saturday morning or afternoon.
Pagasa said the typhoon would remain as a typhoon until it exits the PAR and “will then weaken into a severe tropical storm after moving further inland over mainland China.” /das
