‘Hanna’ moves ‘erratically’ ahead of exit from PAR; Signal No. 1 still up over Batanes


Typhoon Hanna (international name: Haikui) is still inside the country’s area of responsibility due to its “erratic” movement along the coast of Taiwan on Monday morning, Sept. 4, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Hanna was initially projected to leave the PAR on Monday morning, but due to a shift in its track, it may now depart the region on Monday afternoon or evening, PAGASA weather specialist Obet Badrina said.

In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Hanna was last spotted 265 kilometers northwest of Itbayat, Batanes, moving south-southwestward slowly.

It has slightly weakened with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 150 kph.

Badrina said tropical cyclone wind signal number 1 remains hoisted over Batanes as Hanna’s strong winds continue to affect the province.

Rains persist due to ‘habagat’

Hanna may continue to enhance the effect of the southwest monsoon or “habagat,” which may bring occasional rains to the western part of Luzon and Antique over the next three days.

In the next 24 hours, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro may continue to experience heavy to intense rains (100-200 millimeters).

Meanwhile, occasional moderate to heavy rains (50-100 millimeters) may prevail over Metro Manila, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Apayao, Abra, Benguet, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, and Batangas.

The rest of Luzon and Antique may also have scattered moderate to, at times, heavy rains and thunderstorms.

“Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards,” PAGASA warned.