Typhoon ‘Ineng’ Slows Down; May Make Landfall in Batanes Friday

Manila (PNA) — Rains are expected in most parts of Luzon including Metro Manila on Thursday due to southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoon “Ineng”, which maintained its strength but slowed down as it moves toward to extreme Northern Luzon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA).

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said that as of 5 a.m. the eye of Typhoon Ineng was located 435 km east of Calayan, Cagayan (18.9°N, 125.6°E) packed with maximum sustained winds of 180 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 215 kph.

He said the typhoon continues to move westward but decelerated its speed from 20 kph to 13 kph due to the presence of a high pressure area (HPA) and with this it is expected to make landfall in Batanes by Friday or Saturday.

Maintaining its speed and movement, Typhoon Ineng is expected to exit the country by Sunday headed towards Japan, Aurelio said.

He also said the typhoon has slim chance to intensify into super typhoon category as it is expected to weaken due to interaction with the landmass.

He noted that stormy weather and rough seas will be experienced in parts of Northern Luzon as some provinces are still under the public storm warning signals.

Aurelio said Batane and Cagayan including Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands remain under signal no. 2 (winds of 61-100 kilometers per hour expected in at least 24 hours).

Public storm warning signal no. 1 (30-60 kph winds is expected in at least 36 hours) is still hoisted over northern Aurora, Ifugao, Isabela, Mt. Province, Kalinga, Apayao, Abra and Ilocos Norte.

He said that on Thursday until early next week the enhanced “habagat” will bring occasional rains over the western section of Luzon including Metro Manila.

He said the state-run weather bureau also issued a gale warning due to the effects of the typhoon Ineng as the sea condition will be rough to very rough due to strong to gale force winds is expected to affect the eastern seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon and the seaboards of Northern and Eastern Samar.

For Thursday forecast, PAGASA said stormy weather with rough to very rough seas will prevail over Batanes, Apayao and Cagayan including Calayan and Babuyan group of islands while rains with gusty winds over Ilocos Norte, Kalinga, Abra, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Quirino, Isabela and northern Aurora.

Occasional rains will be experienced over Metro Manila, Western Visayas, rest of Ilocos region and of Central Luzon and the provinces of Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, Mindoro, Batangas and Cavite while cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms are expected over the rest of Luzon and of Visayas and partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms will prevail over Mindanao.

The coastal waters over the rest of the archipelago will be moderate to rough. (PNA) JBP/CLTC