PAGASA: Typhoon Huaning moving toward Batanes-Taiwan area

Typhoon Huaning (Soulik) maintained its strength as it moved toward the Batanes-Taiwan area Thursday afternoon, state weather forecasters said.

PAGASA forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said Huaning is not likely to make landfall over the Philippines so long as it does not change its present course.

"Hindi sya magla-landfall basta ma-maintain ang course," Aurelio said in an interview on dzBB radio.

But he said Huaning has a diameter of 900 km and may bring heavy rain to parts of Batanes, which is under Storm Signal No. 1.

PAGASA's 5 p.m. advisory said Huaning has maintained its strength as it moves in the general direction towards the Taiwan-Batanes area.

As of 4 p.m., it was estimated at 690 km east-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes.

Huaning packed maximum winds of 185 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 220 kph, and was moving west-northwest at 20 kph.

By Friday afternoon, it is expected to be 410 km northeast of Itbayat, Batanes. By Saturday afternoon it is expected to be 540 km north-northwest of Itbayat, Batanes and outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

PAGASA said Huaning may bring rainfall of 10 to 46 mm per hour (heavy to torrential) within its 900-km diameter.

"Fishermen specially those using small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon due to big waves generated by Typhoon Huaning," it said.

Friday outlook

PAGASA's 5 p.m. bulletin said Batanes may expect rain with gusty winds, while Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula and Northern Mindanao may have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be "partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms," it added.

Also, it said moderate to strong winds from the west to southwest will prevail over Northern and Eastern Luzon and Eastern Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the west to southwest with slight to moderate seas.

Gale warning

PAGASA warned of strong to gale-force winds associated with Huaning that may affect the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon.

"Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," it said. — BM, GMA News