Typhoon Helen intensifies slightly, to exit PAR Tuesday evening

Typhoon Helen (international name Megi) intensified slightly and was expected to make landfall over Taiwan Tuesday afternoon before exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by the evening,  PAGASA reported in a 5 a.m. bulletin.

At 4 a.m., Helen was 320 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes, with maximum winds of 160 kilometers per hour which can gust up to 195 kph. Estimated rainfall amount within the typhoon's 800 km diameter was from moderate to heavy.

Helen was moving west-northwest at 20 kph, and was projected to 490 kms north-northwest of Basco, Batanes, outside the PAR, by Wednesday morning.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal 2 remained raised over the Batanes Islands, which, aside from the stormy conditions, may also experience a meter high storm surge and open sea wave heights of 4.1 to 14 meters.

Signal 1 was meanwhile raised over northern Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands. These areas will experience rain and gusty winds, along with 1.25 to 4 meter high open sea wave heights.

PAGASA also warned that sea travel was risky over the northern and eastern seaboards of northern Luzon.

Meantime, Mimaropa, the Western Visayas, Batangas, Cavite, Zambales, Bataan, Ilocos Norte, Apayao, and rest of Cagayan will meanwhile be cloudy with light to moderate rain and thunderstorms.

The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms will prevail over Metro Manila and.

Winds will be moderate to strong from the west to southwest over the Visayas and the rest of Luzon. Coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

Winds elsewhere will be light to moderate coming from the south to southwest with slight to moderate seas. — DVM, GMA News