‘Hanna’ to intensify to severe storm but won’t make landfall

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm “Hanna” might intensify into a severe tropical storm on Tuesday afternoon, but was not expected to bring more rains to the country as it slowly moves west, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Monday.

As of 10 p.m. on Monday, Hanna was spotted 2,525 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan province.

It maintained its strength throughout the day, packing 85 km per hour of winds near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph.

It has slowed down to 10 kph and was expected to intensify into a typhoon until it exits the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Friday, said Pagasa weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio.

While it is not expected to have considerable impact over the country since it was not going to make landfall, Hanna’s trough will bring scattered rain showers over Cagayan Valley on Tuesday.

3 others systems

Aside from Hanna, Pagasa is also monitoring three other systems that may affect the weather conditions for this week.

On Monday afternoon, a low pressure area (LPA) outside the country’s area of responsibility was spotted 2,440 km east northeast of southern Luzon.

While it has a low chance of entering the PAR, it is expected to turn into a tropical depression within the day as it moves northward.

A typhoon outside PAR, with international name “Francisco,” is also being monitored by Pagasa, although it has little effect on the country’s prevailing weather conditions.

As of Monday, it was located 1,710 northeast of extreme northern Luzon, with winds of up 120 kph and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

A shallow LPA in the western side of the country, meanwhile, is affecting the southwest monsoon, and may be pulled in by Hanna once it moves closer to the country.