Severe Tropical Storm Hanna maintains strength, west-northwest movement

Severe Tropical Storm Hanna (International name: Lekima) has maintained its strength as it moves west-northwest ward early Wednesday morning, PAGASA reported in its Severe Weather Bulletin No. 8.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remains hoisted over Batanes and Babuyan group of islands.

As of 4 a.m. on Wednesday, the center of Severe Tropical Storm Hanna was estimated at 610 km East of Basco, Batanes with strength Maximum sustained winds of up to 110 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 135 km/h moving West Northwest at 10 km/h.

Moderate to heavy monsoon rains will be experienced over the northern portions of Palawan including Calamian and Cuyo Islands, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Zambales, Bataan, Aklan, and Antique.

Meanwhile, cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms will be experienced over Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Central Visayas and Western Visayas.

On Thursday, moderate to heavy monsoon rains will be experienced over the northern portions of Palawan (including Calamian and Cuyo Islands), Occidental Mindoro, Batangas, Cavite, Bataan, Zambales, Ilocos Region. Light to moderate to at times heavy rains will be experienced over Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, and Western Visayas.

The residents in the affected areas, especially those living in flood-prone or landslide prone areas, to take precautionary measures, coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and continue monitoring for updates, especially Thunderstorm Advisories and Heavy Rainfall Warnings to be issued by PAGASA Regional Services Divisions.

Fisherfolks and those with small seacrafts are advised not to venture out over the seaboards of areas under TCWS No. 1, the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas, and the northern and eastern seaboards of Mindanao due to potentially rough sea conditions.

Meanwhile, the state weather bureau continues to monitor Tropical Storm Krosa, which is outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and was estimated at 2,130 km east of extreme northern Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 90 km/h and is moving west northwest at 15 km/h and is less likely to enter the PAR.

A Low Pressure Area was estimated at 270 km West of Dagupan City, Pangasinan. — BAP, GMA News