Henry maintains strengh while moving westward

Tropical Depression Henry has maintained its strength while moving westward over the West Philippine Sea, PAGASA said Wednesday.

Henry was last spotted 240 km west southwest of Abucay, Bataan with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 55 km/h, moving eastward at 25 km/h.

No wind signal has been hoisted.

PAGASA, however, said that "heavy rainfall and severe winds may still be experienced in localities outside the forecast confidence cone."

State meteorologists also said the periphery of Henry and the Southwest Monsoon will bring strong to gale-force gusts over Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, and MIMAROPA on Wednesday.

Up to moderate seas over the following coastal waters are also expected:

Up to 2.5 m: The seaboards of Babuyan Islands and Zambales; the northern seaboards of Cagayan and Ilocos Norte; the western seaboards of Pangasinan, Bataan, and Kalayaan Islands.

Up to 2.0 m: The seaboards of Batanes, Isabela, northern Aurora, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Lubang Islands; the western seaboard of Bataan, Batangas, and Palawan; the remaining seaboards of Ilocos Norte and Kalayaan Islands.

"Mariners of motorbancas and similarly sized vessels are advised to take precautionary measures while venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigation under these conditions," PAGASA said.

Meanwhile, other coastal waters have forecast wave heights of less than 2.0 m.

Henry is seen to move generally west northwestward while moving away from the Philippine landmass.

It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning.

"HENRY will gradually intensify while traversing the West Philippine Sea and may reach tropical storm category by tomorrow evening," PAGASA said.

"Afterwards, it is forecast to remain as a tropical storm throughout the remainder of the forecast period," it added. —VAL, GMA News