Super typhoon Henry (international name: Hinnamnor) has slightly weakened but may still bring rains and strong winds over extreme Northern Luzon beginning Thursday afternoon, Sept. 1, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Wednesday evening, Aug. 31.

In its 11 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Henry now has maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph.

“Henry has slightly weakened as a result of a nearly complete eyewall replacement cycle. As it begins to slow down and enter a quasi-stationary phase, the tropical cyclone may gradually weaken and be downgraded to typhoon category. A slight re-intensification may occur as Henry begins to track north-northwestward, but this phase is likely to be short-lived as the tropical cyclone may begin weakening again by Sunday (Sept. 4) or Monday (Sept. 5),” PAGASA said.

Henry was at 690 kilometers (km) northeast of Itbayat, Batanes at around 10 p.m.

Meanwhile, PAGASA said tropical depression Gardo may degenerate into a remnant low in the next 12 hours, before it eventually gets absorbed by Henry’s circulation.

Gardo was last spotted 1,040 km east-northeast of extreme Northern Luzon, maintaining its maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.

Heavy rains, severe winds

Henry remains less likely to make landfall but it may bring “light to moderate with at times heavy rains” over Batanes and Babuyan Islands as early as Thursday afternoon, PAGASA said.

By Friday, Sept. 2, PAGASA said Henry may continue to bring moderate to heavy rains over Batanes and Babuyan Islands.

By Saturday, Sept. 3, Batanes may continue to experience moderate to heavy rains, while Babuyan Islands may have light to moderate rains with at times heavy rains.

“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 hazard as identified in hazard maps, and in localities with significant antecedent rainfall,” PAGASA warned.

Due to the forecast expansion in the extent of tropical cyclone winds associated with super typhoon Henry, PAGASA said that tropical cyclone wind signals may be hoisted over extreme Northern Luzon by Thursday “at the earliest” in anticipation of potential strong breeze to near gale conditions.

“The potential for hoisting a Wind Signal No. 2 is also not ruled out,” PAGASA said.

Henry may also enhance the southwest monsoon or “habagat,” which may bring rains over the western section of Luzon.

According to PAGASA, Henry will likely leave the country’s area of responsibility by Saturday evening or Sunday morning, Sept. 4.