Huaning accelerates, intensifies; to exit PAR Monday afternoon

Weather bureau PAGASA on Sunday afternoon said it is expecting an early exit of Tropical Storm Huaning (international name Haitang) from the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) after it accelerated while moving toward southern Taiwan.

PAGASA said in its 5 p.m. update on Huaning that the storm's eye was estimated at 215 kilometers northwest of Basco, Batanes.

The weather bureau said the storm has intensified, packing maximum sustained winds of 80 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 110 kph. It was forecast to move north at 24 kph.

From an earlier forecast exit on Tuesday morning, the storm is now expected to move out of PAR by Monday afternoon.

The storm is expected to slam into southern Taiwan on Sunday night.

PAGASA, meanwhile, lifted the cyclone warning signal earlier hoisted over Apayao, Abra and Ilocos Sur.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal Number 1 is still hoisted over Batanes, Ilocos Norte, and northwestern Cagayan including Babuyan Group of Islands.

The storm is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon, which will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains over Northern and Central Luzon.

"Residents in these areas are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides," PAGASA said.

The estimated rainfall within the storm's 500-km diameter was moderate to heavy.

The weather bureau said sea travel over the seaboard of Northern Luzon and the western seaboard of Central Luzon is risky. —ALG, GMA News