MANILA -- Typhoon Hanna has slightly weakened as it moved closer to Batanes area, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
Pagasa weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said that as of 5 a.m. Thursday, the typhoon, with international name Soudelor, was located 930 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 210 kph. It is forecast to move west northwest at 20 kph.
Typhoon Hanna is still not expected to make landfall in any part of the country.
Public Storm Warning Signal no. 1 is still up in Batanes Group of Islands.
The estimated rainfall amount is from moderate to heavy within the 650 kilometers diameter of the typhoon.
While maintaining its speed and movement, the typhoon is forecast to be at 495 kilometers east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes by Friday morning.
On Saturday morning, it is estimated to be at 245 kilometers north of Itbayat, Batanes and is expected outside Philippine area of responsibility or 690 kilometers northwest of Itbayat, Batanes by Sunday morning.
Aurelio said monsoon rains that may trigger flash floods and landslides will be experienced over Bicol, Visayas, Mindanao and the province of Palawan. Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms is expected in Metro Manila, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), and the provinces of Mindoro, Marinduque and Romblon.
He added that the rest of Luzon will continue to experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms.
The western part of the country, including Metro Manila, will experience rainy weather by Friday or until weekend due to southwest monsoon enhanced by the typhoon.
Pagasa also issued a gale warning due to the effects of habagat, as sea condition will be rough to very rough due to strong to gale force winds expected to affect the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon, the seaboards of Palawan, of Visayas and of Mindanao.
"Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," Pagasa said.
In its advisory, Pagasa said moderate to strong winds blowing from the northwest to west will prevail over Northern and Central Luzon and coming from the southwest over the rest of the country. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough. (PNA)