Typhoon Jenny (international name: Koinu) slightly weakened as it started to move toward southern Taiwan, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Wednesday, Oct. 4.
PAGASA in its 5 a.m. bulletin said the center of the eye of the typhoon was located 270 kilometers east-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes.
It was packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center with gustiness of up to 185 kph, while moving west-northwestward at 10 kph.
PAGASA said Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 was still hoisted over Itbayat, Batanes where "storm-force" winds will be felt in the next 18 hours.
The rest of Batanes and northern portion of Babuyan Islands remained under Signal No. 2 where "gale-force" winds will be experienced, said PAGASA.
PAGASA said TCWS No. 1 is still in effect over the rest of Babuyan Islands, northern of mainland Cagayan, northern portion of Apayao and northern portion of Ilocos Norte.
Heavy rains to prevail
PAGASA said heavy to intense rains (100 to 200 millimeters) will be experienced in Batanes on Wednesday while moderate to heavy rains (50 to 100 mm) will be felt in northern portion of Babuyan Islands.
Moderate to heavy rains will be felt in Batanes and northern portion of Babuyan Islands on Thursday, Oct. 4, said PAGASA.
PAGASA added that Jenny will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon, or "habagat," and will bring occasional rains to the western portions of Luzon in the next three days.
The typhoon may move west-northwestward in the next 12 hours and westward thereafter.
Based on the track forecast of PAGASA, it will make landfall over the southern portion of Taiwan on Thursday morning, Oct. 5 and exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) in the afternoon or evening. (Lizst Torres Abello)