PAGASA: Hanna now a typhoon, to continue enhancing Habagat

Tropical Cyclone Hanna has intensified into a typhoon and is now enhancing the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat, according to state weather bureau PAGASA's Friday morning update. 

In its 11 a.m bulletin, PAGASA said Typhoon Hanna is less likely to directly bring heavy rainfall over the country, but the enhanced Habagat will bring occasional to monsoon rains over the western portion of Luzon in the next three days.

The enhanced Southwest Monsoon or Habagat will also bring gusty conditions over Batanes, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Zambales, Bataan, Aurora, Bulacan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and the northern portion of Eastern Visayas.

Hanna was located 785 kilometers east northeast of Basco, Batanes packing maximum sustained winds of 120 km per hour and gustiness of up to 150 km/h.

It was moving westward at 20 km/h.

The typhoon is expected to reach its peak intensity on Saturday before its close approach or landfall over northern Taiwan, according to PAGASA.

PAGASA said forecast rainfall is generally higher in elevated or mountainous areas.

“Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are expected especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps and in localities that experienced considerable amounts of rainfall for the past several days,” PAGASA said.

A Gale Warning is also in effect for most of the seaboards of Luzon and Western Visayas, and the seaboard of Northern Samar.

“Disruption in civilian maritime activities is expected over these areas (e.g., suspension of sea travel) due to hazardous sea conditions,” PAGASA said.

Hanna is expected to move generally west northwestward or northwestward throughout the forecast period.

The bad weather has prompted local government units to suspend classes.

In Metro Manila, classes in all levels in both public and private schools, as well as government work, have also been suspended by Malacañang.

Several airlines also announced flight cancellations early Friday.

The typhoon may leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Sunday morning, according to PAGASA. —VAL, GMA Integrated News