The super typhoon with an international name Hinnamnor may not make landfall over the Philippines but its outer circulation may bring scattered rains over extreme northern Luzon as early as Thursday, Sept. 1, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Tuesday, Aug. 30.
Hinnamnor is still expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning, Sept. 1.
Once inside the PAR, the domestic name “Henry” will be assigned to this tropical cyclone, according to PAGASA.
“The extent of tropical cyclone winds of Hinnamnor 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 said.
“Light to moderate with at times heavy rains associated with the outermost rainbands of the super typhoon may affect extreme Northern Luzon beginning late Thursday (Sept. 1) or Friday (Sept. 2),” it added.
Furthermore, PAGASA said Hinnamnor may enhance the southwest monsoon or “habagat” and bring rains over the western section of Luzon as early as Friday.
As of 10 p.m., Tuesday, Hinnamnor was estimated at 1,305 kilometers (km) east-northeast of extreme northern Luzon, packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 240 kph.
‘Hinnamnor’ to merge with ‘Gardo’
PAGASA also continues to monitor a tropical depression inside the PAR, as it may merge with Hinnamnor in the next few days.
Tropical depression Gardo maintained its strength as it moved west-southwestward over the Philippine Sea, but is not expected to directly affect the country.
As of 10 p.m., the tropical depression was estimated at 1,125 km east of extreme northern Luzon, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.
“Tropical depression Gardo is forecast to move generally northward or north-northwestward throughout the forecast period as it interacts with the tropical cyclone Hinnamnor,” PAGASA said.
“This tropical cyclone is forecast to intensify into tropical storm within the next 12 hours. However, the disturbance may degenerate into a remnant low by tomorrow afternoon or evening (Aug. 31) as Hinnamnor begins to assimilate its circulation,” it added.