PAGASA: Huaning weakens, heavy seas around Luzon

Typhoon Huaning (Soulik) weakened further as it continued to move toward the Taiwan-Batanes area early Friday, with state weather forecasters warning of rough seas off northern and Central Luzon coasts.

PAGASA forecaster Samuel Duran said that Huaning can still generate big waves that can be a threat to those aboard small seacraft. "Mataas ang alon natin kaya naglabas ng gale warning sa northern and eastern seaboards ng Northern and Central Luzon," he said.

The PAGASA gale warning said that gale force winds associated with Typhoon Huaning may affect the northern and eastern seaboards of northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon.

"Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," it said.

Meanwhile, Duran said that even if Huaning exits the PAR on Saturday, parts of the country can still expect rain during the weekend.

PAGASA's 5 a.m. advisory said that as of 4 a.m., Huaning was estimated at 480 km east-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, with maximum winds of 165 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 200 kph.

Huaning was moving west-northwest at 20 kph and is expected to be 370 km north of Itbayat, Batanes Saturday morning.

By Saturday afternoon it is expected to be 520 km north Northwest of Itbayat, Batanes or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

Batanes remained under Storm Signal No. 1.

PAGASA also said Huaning may bring rainfall of 10 to 46 mm per hour (heavy to torrential) within its 900-km diameter.

Friday outlook

In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Batanes may expect rain with gusty winds.

Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao and Caraga will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms, it added.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be "partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms," it added.

PAGASA said moderate to strong winds from the west to southwest will prevail over northern and eastern Luzon and Eastern Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the west to southwest with slight to moderate seas. — DVM, GMA News