Batanes only province under Signal No. 1 as ‘Hanna’ makes its way out

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Hanna (international name: Lekima) may leave the Philippine area of responsibility between Thursday evening and Friday morning but it will still soak parts of the country.

PAGASA weather forecasters have lifted Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 over the Babuyan Group of Islands, according to a bulletin issued late Thursday afternoon. Only Batanes remains under Signal No. 1.

“Hanna” was last spotted 505 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes. Moving north northwest at 20 km per hour, it is approaching the Ryukyu Islands in Japan.

The typhoon has maximum sustained winds of 185 kph near the center and gusts of up to 230 kph.

PAGASA said the outer rain bands of “Hanna” and the southwest monsoon will bring light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains and gusty winds over Batanes and Babuyan Group of Island until Friday.

Residents of Ilocos, Cordillera Administrative Region, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro and northern portions of Palawan including Calamian Islands will experience moderate to heavy monsoon rains until tomorrow afternoon.

Meanwhile, light to moderate with intermittent heavy monsoon rains will prevail over Metro Manila, Western Visayas, Calabarzon and the rest of Central Luzon and Mimaropa.

Between Friday afternoon and Saturday afternoon, light to moderate with intermittent heavy monsoon rains may affect Ilocos, CAR, Zambales and Bataan.

The enhanced southwest monsoon will continue to bring gusty conditions over most of Luzon and Visayas.

Sea travel remains risky over the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas and the northern and eastern seaboards of Mindanao.

PAGASA also said the low pressure area west of Northern Luzon has already dissipated.

Meanwhile, the almost stationary typhoon with the international name Krosa was last seen 1,950 km east of extreme Northern Luzon. It is not expected to enter the country’s jurisdiction.

Forecast positions

• Friday afternoon: 685 km north of Basco, Batanes (outside PAR)
• Saturday afternoon: 940 km north of Basco, Batanes (outside PAR)

— Gaea Katreena Cabico