MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Hanna (Lekima) has gained strength anew Thursday morning as it continues to enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat.
“Hanna” now packs maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour near the center from the previous 175 kph. Its gusts also strengthened to 230 kph from the previous 215 kph.
Moving northwest at 15 kph, the typhoon’s eye was last seen 490 km northeast of Basco, Batanes. It is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility on Friday morning.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remains hoisted over Batanes and Babuyan Group of Islands. Winds between 30 to 60 kph or intermittent rains may be expected within 36 hours.
State weather bureau PAGASA said moderate to heavy monsoon rains will affect Metro Manila, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, northern portions of Palawan, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, Zambales, Bataan, Rizal, Cavite and Bulacan.
Meanwhile, light to moderate with at times heavy monsoon rains will prevail over Ilocos region, Cordillera Administrative Region, the rest of Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA and Western Visayas.
By Friday, residents of Ilocos region, CAR, Zambales, Bataan and Occidental Mindoro may experience moderate to heavy monsoon rains. Those living in Metro Manila, rest of Central Luzon, CALABARZON and MIMAROPA may have light to moderate with at times heavy monsoon rains.
Due to the enhanced southwest monsoon, gusty conditions will continue to prevail over the western portions of Luzon and Visayas.
Sea travel over the seaboards of areas under TCWS No.1, the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas and the northern and eastern seaboards of Mindanao remains risky.
PAGASA also said that the low pressure area 180 km west northwest of Dagupan, Pangasinan remains less likely to become a tropical depression. It is also expected to dissipate within 24 to 48 hours.
The typhoon with international name Krosa was spotted 1,930 km east of extreme Northern Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 130 kph and gusts of up to 160 kph. It is heading northwest slowly and is not seen to enter PAR.
Forecast positions
- Friday morning: 595 km north of Basco, Batanes (outside PAR)
- Saturday morning: 795 km north Basco, Batanes (outside PAR)
- Sunday morning: 1,120 km north of Basco, Batanes (outside PAR)
— Gaea Katreena Cabico