By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — More areas in Northern Luzon were placed under tropical cyclone wind signals on Friday as Typhoon Inday continued to move over the Philippine Sea while enhancing the southwest monsoon (habagat), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.
In its 5 a.m. advisory, Pagasa raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 over the rest of the Babuyan Islands, the remaining areas of mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, Ilocos Norte, the northern portion of Abra, and the eastern portion of Ifugao.
Signal No. 2 remained in effect over Batanes, the eastern portion of the Babuyan Islands, and the northeastern part of mainland Cagayan, where stronger winds associated with the typhoon are expected.
As of 4 a.m., Inday was located 620 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes, carrying maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 185 kph while moving northwest at 20 kph.
Pagasa warned of strong to gale-force winds over the seaboards of Extreme Northern Luzon, the northern and eastern coasts of Northern Luzon, and the eastern seaboards of Luzon.
The weather bureau also issued heavy rainfall warnings over Oriental Mindoro and Antique, where 100 to 200 millimeters of rain may trigger flooding and landslides.
Meanwhile, 60 to 100 millimeters of rainfall are expected over Metro Manila, Bataan, Zambales, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and Zamboanga del Sur due to the enhanced southwest monsoon.
Pagasa weather specialist Obet Badrina said the habagat continues to bring widespread rains across the western sections of Luzon, the Visayas, and parts of Mindanao despite the typhoon remaining offshore.
Inday is forecast to continue moving northwest over the Philippine Sea and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Saturday morning or afternoon. However, Pagasa said the cyclone will continue to strengthen the southwest monsoon, bringing periods of heavy rain over western Luzon and the Visayas throughout the weekend.
Residents in affected areas were advised to remain alert for possible flooding, landslides, rough seas, and strong winds as weather conditions may deteriorate even after the typhoon leaves the country’s area of responsibility.
ia/xf
