‘Hanna’ to strengthen into typhoon as it heads for extreme Northern Luzon

MANILA, Philippines — Severe Tropical Storm Hanna (international name: Lekima) will intensify into a typhoon on Wednesday as it moves towards extreme Northern Luzon, the state weather bureau said.

The storm slightly intensified with maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 125 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its latest briefing Tuesday evening.

Hanna was last spotted 780 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan, traveling north-northwest at 10 kph, Pagasa noted.

According to Pagasa, Hanna will enhance the southwest monsoon currently affecting Luzon and Visayas. /kga