The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has lowered the tropical cyclone wind signal in Batanes as typhoon Henry (international name Hinnamnor) continued to move away from the country on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 3.
From Signal No. 2, Batanes is now under Signal No. 1, while the wind signal earlier raised in Santa Ana, Cagayan has been lifted.
Meanwhile, the northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Balintang Island, Calayan Island, Babuyan Island, Camiguin Island, and Didicas Island) remained under Signal No. 1.
Henry was at 460 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes at around 4 p.m. It had maintained its maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph, while moving northward at 10 kph.
PAGASA said Henry will likely be outside the country’s area of responsibility by late Saturday evening.
In the next few hours, light to moderate with, at times, heavy rains may persist in Batanes and Babuyan Islands.
Scattered light to occasional heavy rains may also prevail over Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Ilocos Region, the rest of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Central Luzon due to the combined effects of Henry’s trough or extension and the southwest monsoon or “habagat.”
“Under these conditions, isolated to scattered flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides are possible especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps, and in localities with significant antecedent rainfall,” PAGASA warned.
“In the next 24 hours, occasional gusts reaching strong to gale-force strength associated with the enhanced Southwest Monsoon and its convergence with the typhoon circulation may also be experienced (especially in the coastal and mountainous areas) over Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Mindoro provinces, Romblon, and the remaining localities in Babuyan Islands that are not under any wind signal,” it added.
Henry may also cause moderate to rough seas over the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon.
“These conditions may be risky for those using small seacrafts. Mariners are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions,” PAGASA said.
Based on the latest track forecast, Henry may “pass very close or make landfall” in the southern islands of the Ryukyu archipelago on Saturday evening.