SUPER typhoon “Hinnamnor” entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) yesterday afternoon and was given the local name “Henry.”
While Henry will bring rains to some areas in Luzon, the typhoon is still not expected not to make landfall, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Earlier yesterday, PAGASA officials said Signal No. 3 may be declared in Batanes and two other areas in northern Luzon.
As of 3 p.m. yesterday, the super typhoon was some 870 km northeast of extreme northern Luzon. It was moving west southwestward at 25 kph, packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 240 kph. It was forecast to enhance the southwest monsoon which will bring moderate to heavy rains to the Cagayan Valley, Ilocos, and Central Luzon regions.
PAGASA administrator Vicente Malano, in a briefing at noon yesterday, said the agency may raise Signal No. 1 in Batanes and in Babuyan and Calayan Islands (both in Cagayan) today.
“Most likely, it will (later) reach Signal No. 3 but as of now we are not seeing the need to raise the signal up to Signal No. 4 in the areas of Batanes and in Babuyan (Islands) and Calayan Island,” said Malano.
Signal No. 3 may be declared in these areas on Friday when the super typhoon will be closest to the country.
Henry was forecast to exit PAR on Sunday.
“The crucial date is Friday and weekend because that’s when it will enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains in northern and central parts of Luzon,” said PAGASA weather specialist Raymond Ordinario.
In a radio interview, Ordinario said Henry remained unlikely to make landfall.
“The super typhoon will enter the northern boundary but it will not directly hit any part of our country. But there is a possibility that we may raise signal over the extreme northern Luzon due to the distance or the proximity of extreme northern Luzon to the strong winds of the super typhoon ,” said Ordinario.
In another radio interview, PAGASA weather specialist Daniel Villamil said, “We’re not expecting landfall for both (tropical cyclones).”
Villamil was referring to Henry and tropical depression “Gardo” which is about 1,080 km east of extreme northern Luzon as of 4 p.m. yesterday.
Gardo was moving northward at 10 kph, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.
Gardo was forecast to dissipate or weaken into a low pressure area last night or this morning when Henry absorbs it.
Gardo is not directly affecting any part of the country but it is enhancing the southwest monsoon which is bringing rains in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon and Visayas.
Before Gardo and Henry, storm “Florita” also hit the northern part of the country last month, leaving three people dead.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said about P11.9 million worth of aid from the government and private groups have already been provided to families affected by Florita which made landfall on August 23.
Of the amount, P8.71 million came from the department, P2.978 million from local government units (LGUs), P30,000 from non-government organizations, and P179,391.20 from other private partners.
Data from the DSWD’s Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center also showed 336 families or 1,170 persons remain displaced — 71 families or 264 persons who are still staying in seven evacuation centers and in Regions I (Ilocos), III (Central Luzon), National Capital Region (NCR) and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and 265 families or 906 persons who are temporarily staying with their relatives in Regions I, III and CAR. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
