By Juzel L. Danganan
MANILA, Aug. 8 (PNA) — Typhoon “Hanna” (Souldejor) has weakened as it tracks to leave the country and head towards China Saturday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
”Typhoon “Hanna” has further weakened as it threatens mainland China,” PAGASA said on its 5 p.m. weather bulletin issued on Saturday.
PAGASA said that typhoon Hanna was located 445 km North Northwest of Itbayat, Batanes (24.3°N, 119.8°E) with maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph, adding that the typhoon was forecast to move northwest at 20 kph.
PAGASA said Hanna was expected to be outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at 835 km northwest of Itbayat, Batanes within the next 24 hours.
By Monday afternoon, it is estimated to be 1,275 km north northwest of Itbayat, Batanes.
The estimated rainfall within the 700-kilometer (km) diameter of the typhoon will be moderate to heavy.
Public storm warning signal no. 1 was issued over Batanes province, including Itbayat, which will experience 30-60 kph winds expected in 36 hrs. It warned the public against 1.25- to 4.0-meter storm surges along the coastal areas.
PAGASA has also lifted storm warning signal no. 1 in the Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands and northern Cagayan.
Meanwhile, PAGASA said the southwest monsoon brought rains to MIMAROPA and Western Visayas. It warned that residents in low-lying and mountainous areas are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.
According to PAGASA, other areas in Luzon and Visayas, including Metro Manila, will experience light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms.
PAGASA said Mindanao would experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies along with isolated thunderstorms.
PAGASA added Northern and Central Luzon would have moderate to strong winds coming from the northwest to west, while other areas will experience winds coming from the southwest.
PAGASA also said that the coastal waters over the rest of the archipelago would be moderate to rough.
The state-run weather bureau has also issued a gale warning over the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon, southern seaboards of Southern Luzon, the eastern seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Visayas. (PNA)