Henry weakens, Signal No. 1 remains over 3 areas

Super Typhoon Henry has weakened into typhoon level as it meandered over the Philippine Sea east of Batanes, according to PAGASA on Friday.

In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the center of the eye of Henry, which is almost stationary, was estimated at 395 kilometers east of Itbayat, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour near the center, gustiness of up to 215 km/h, and central pressure of 930 hPa.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 is hoisted over the following areas:

• Batanes
• Babuyan Islands
• the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana)

PAGASA said moderate to heavy -- with at times intense -- rains are likely over Batanes and Babuyan Islands due to the typhoon, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains are likely over Ilocos Norte, Apayao, and Cagayan.

Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, the rest of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and Western Visayas will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the trough of Henry and the southwest monsoon or Habagat, with possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rains.

The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to localized thunderstorms, with possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms.

The wind speed forecast for northern and central Luzon is moderate to strong moving in the northwest to west direction while coastal waters will be moderate to rough.

Henry is also forecast to enhance the southwest monsoon or Habagat, which may bring rains over the western section of Luzon on Saturday.

With the typhoon, a gale warning is in effect for the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon. PAGASA said sea conditions may be risky for those using small seacraft so mariners are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea.

Henry is forecast to remain almost stationary on Friday morning , accelerate northward on Saturday, and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday evening or Sunday morning.

Sunrise will be at 5:44 a.m. sunset will be at 6:08 p.m.  -- BAP/KBK, GMA News