Henry moving away from Luzon; may exit PAR on Wednesday — PAGASA

Tropical Depression Henry is now moving north northwestward away from Luzon and is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility as early as tonight, the evening of July 1, PAGASA said Wednesday afternoon.

According to its 5 p.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, the state weather bureau said Henry is expected to exit the PAR on Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning.

Henry was located 315 kms west of Dagupan City, Pangasinan.

It has maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph, and is moving north northwestward at 30 kph.

State meteorologists said the periphery of Henry and the Southwest Monsoon will bring strong to gale-force gusts over Batanes, Cagayan, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, and Palawan on Thursday.

Meanwhile, up to moderate seas are expected over the following coastal waters:

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 seaboards 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.

Henry is expected to move generally west northwestward away from the Philippine landmass.

The weather disturbance will then gradually intensify while traversing the West Philippine Sea and may reach tropical storm category by Thursday afternoon, PAGASA said.

It is forecast to then remain as a tropical storm throughout the remainder of the forecast period.

"Considering these developments, the public and disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned are advised to take all necessary measures to protect life and property," PAGASA said.

"Persons living in areas identified to be highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards are advised to follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials," it added. — VDV, GMA News