By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Typhoon Inday continued to intensify Friday as it moved northwestward over the Philippine Sea, even as state weather forecasters assured the public that the cyclone is not expected to make landfall in the Philippines.
Despite remaining offshore, the typhoon is significantly enhancing the southwest monsoon (habagat), bringing widespread rains over the western sections of Luzon, the Visayas, and parts of Mindanao, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
In a weather briefing, Pagasa weather specialist John Manalo said that as of 4 a.m., Inday was located 620 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 185 kph while moving northwest at 20 kph.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 remains in effect over Batanes, the eastern portion of the Babuyan Islands, and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan.
Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 has been hoisted 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 portions of Mountain Province and Ifugao.
Manalo said current forecasts indicate that Inday will continue tracking toward Taiwan and is not expected to directly hit any part of the Batanes island chain or the Philippine mainland.
Although the typhoon will remain offshore, its broad circulation continues to intensify the southwest monsoon.
Manalo explained that the habagat consists of moisture-laden winds blowing from the southwest toward the Philippines. As Typhoon Inday spins counterclockwise, it draws surrounding air into its center, strengthening the southwest monsoon and pulling more moisture over the country.
This interaction results in increased cloud formation and heavier rainfall, particularly across the western sections of the country, even without a direct landfall.
Pagasa warned that the enhanced habagat could trigger moderate to heavy rains, raising the risk of flooding, flash floods, and landslides, especially in low-lying and mountainous areas.
Residents in affected communities were urged to continue monitoring official weather bulletins and heed advisories from local disaster management authorities as Inday continues to influence weather conditions across much of the country.
ia/xf
