Super typhoon Hinnamnor has entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) at around 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 31 and was given its domestic name “Henry,” said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
The super typhoon is packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 240 kph.
Meanwhile, PAGASA senior weather specialist Raymond Ordinario said tropical depression Gardo now has a greater chance of weakening and becoming a low pressure area within the next 12 hours.
Gardo was last spotted 1,080 km east of extreme Northern Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph and gustiness of up to 70 kph.
Ordinario added that the remnant of the tropical depression will be absorbed by Henry’s circulation in the next few hours.
“Today (Aug. 31) through tomorrow evening (Sept. 1), the super typhoon is forecast to decelerate while tracking generally west-southwestward or southwestward over the sea southeast of Ryukyu Islands,” PAGASA said.
Ordinario said that Henry will be almost stationary by late Thursday through Friday, Sept. 2, due to the influence of two high pressure areas north of the super typhoon.
“Light to moderare with at times heavy rains associated with the outermost rainbands of the super typhoon may affect extreme Northern Luzon beginning late Thursday or Friday,” PAGASA said.
Furthermore, Henry may enhance the southwest monsoon or “habagat” and bring rains over the western section of Luzon beginning Friday.
The super typhoon may also cause rough seas over the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon beginning late Thursday or early Friday.
“The extent of tropical cyclone winds of Henry may continue to expand in the coming days as it moves towards the northern Philippine Sea. As such, the possibility of hoisting a tropical cyclone wind signal over extreme Northern Luzon during the occurrence of this tropical cyclone within the PAR region is not ruled out,” PAGASA added.
Moreover, cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms may also prevail over Metro Manila, Batanes, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Bicol Region, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region due to the trough of Gardo and habagat.