Signal No. 1 up over Batanes, portion of Babuyan Islands due to Henry

Weather bureau PAGASA on Thursday hoisted Signal No. 1 over Batanes and the northeastern portion of the Babuyan Islands as Super Typhoon Henry slightly weakened and decelerated.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the center of the eye of Henry was seen 400 kilometers east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, at 4 p.m.

It is moving south-southwestward at 15 kilometers per hour, with maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kilometers per hour.

On Thursday evening, moderate to heavy rains are expected over Batanes, with light to moderate and occasionally heavy rains possible over the Babuyan Islands.

It is forecast to rain moderate to heavy over Batanes and the Babuyan Islands on Friday.

By Saturday, moderate to heavy rains are expected over Batanes, with light to moderate and occasionally heavy rains expected over the Babuyan Islands.

Henry will also enhance the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat), which will bring rains over the western section of Luzon beginning on Friday.

PAGASA said a gale warning is in effect for the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon.

"In the next 24 hours, Henry may bring moderate to rough seas (1.2 to 4.0 m) over the eastern seaboards of Isabela, Central and Southern Luzon, and the Visayas," it said.

"These conditions may be risky for those using small seacrafts. Mariners are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions."

On the forecast track, the super typhoon is expected to decelerate south southwestward beginning Thursday afternoon.

It may become almost stationary by Thursday evening to Friday morning. It may begin tracking slowly northwestward by Friday afternoon before eventually accelerating northward by Saturday.

Henry may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday evening or Sunday morning.

"This super typhoon will weaken gradually as it begins to slow down," PAGASA said. —VBL, GMA News