Batanes, portion of Babuyan Islands under Signal No. 1 as Henry maintains strength

Batanes and parts of the Babuyan Islands were placed under Signal No. 1 as Typhoon Henry maintained its strength while moving northward over the sea east of Taiwan.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, weather bureau PAGASA said the center of the eye of the typhoon was located 460 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes at 4 p.m. 

It was moving northward at 10 kilometers per hour, with maximum sustained winds of 150 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 185 km/h.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains will prevail over areas under the wind signal: Batanes and the northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Balintang, Calayan, Babuyan, Camiguin and Didicas islands).

“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 hazards as identified in hazard maps and in localities with significant antecedent rainfall,” the weather bureau said.

In the next 24 hours, the typhoon-enhanced Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) will bring rains over the western sections of Northern and Central Luzon, according to PAGASA.

Strong wind strength (strong breeze to near gale) will be experienced in any of the areas under Signal No. 1.

Occasional gusts reaching strong to gale-force strength associated with the enhanced Southwest Monsoon and its convergence with the typhoon circulation may also be experienced (especially in the coastal and mountainous areas) over Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Mindoro Provinces, Romblon, and the remaining localities in the Babuyan Islands that are not under any wind signal in the next 24 hours.

A gale warning is also in effect for the seaboards of Northern Luzon.

In the next 24 hours, Henry may bring moderate to rough seas over the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon (1.2 to 3.0 m).

PAGASA warned that these conditions could be dangerous for those operating small boats.

It also advised mariners to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions.

Henry will continue moving northward through Monday early morning before turning north northeastward on Monday afternoon.

The typhoon is expected to pass very close to or make landfall in the Ryukyu archipelago's southern islands on Saturday evening before exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) late Saturday night. —VBL, GMA News