Typhoon Inday weakens, moves faster towards sea of Batanes; Signal No. 2 over three areas

Typhoon Inday weakens further as it accelerates northwestward over the sea east of Batanes with Signal No. 2 raised over three areas, including Batanes, according to the latest Tropical Cyclone Bulletin posted by PAGASA.

The center of Typhoon Inday was estimated at 620 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour near the center, gustiness of up to 185 km/h, and moving northwestward at the speed of 20 km/h.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 is hoisted over the following areas:

• Batanes
• the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Is., Didicas Is., Camiguin Is.)
• the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana)

TCWS No. 1 is raised over the following areas:

• the rest of Babuyan Islands
• the rest of mainland Cagayan
• Isabela
• Apayao
• the northern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lagayan, Danglas, San Juan, Lagangilang, Licuan-Baay, Malibcong, Lacub, Daguioman, Dolores, La Paz)
• Kalinga
• the eastern portion of Mountain Province (Natonin, Paracelis)
• the eastern portion of Ifugao (Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista)
• Ilocos Norte

Heavy Rainfall Outlook

Heavy rainfall due to Tropical Cyclone Inday on Friday will measure 50-100 mm in Batanes.

Heavy rainfall due to Southwest Monsoon on Friday that will be heavy to intense level with 100-200 mm will be experienced in Occidental Mindoro and Antique.

Moderate to Heavy (50-100 mm) will be experienced in Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Zamboanga del Sur, Lanao del Norte, and Lanao del Sur.

Severe Winds

"The enhanced Southwest Monsoon and the periphery of Typhoon Inday will bring strong to gale-force gusts over the following areas (especially in coastal and upland areas exposed to winds) on Friday and Saturday over most of the country.

Hazards affecting coastal waters

A Gale Warning is in effect over the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon.

Sea travel is risky for several types or tonnage of vessels and all mariners must remain in port or, if underway, seek shelter or safe harbor as soon as possible until winds and waves subside.

Track and Intensity Outlook

Typhoon Inday is forecast to generally move northwestward while remaining over the Philippine Sea and may pass closest to Extreme Northern Luzon between Friday night and Saturday morning then move toward the southern islands of Japan and may make landfall or pass close over the northern coast of Taiwan.

PAGASA said Inday will then exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Saturday morning or afternoon and make landfall over the eastern coast of mainland China by Saturday evening or early Sunday morning.

"Inday is forecast to remain as a typhoon until it exits the PAR. It will then weaken into a severe tropical storm after moving further inland over mainland China," the agency added. — BAP, GMA News