As Typhoon Hanna crosses Taiwan, it slightly weakens. Now, with maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 185 kph, it is expected to move northwest at 20 kph.

Based on the latest data of PAGASA, Hanna was located at 415 kilometers north-northwest of Itbayat, Batanes. PAGASA Weather Forecaster Aldczar Aurelio says that if it maintains speed and direction, it is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this afternoon, between 3:00 to 5:00 PM. Once it exits our boundary, it will head towards the southern part of China.

Though Hanna gradually makes its path away from the country, storm signals are still up over the extreme Northern Luzon.




Areas under storm signals are still alerted against stormy weather brought by the typhoon. Meanwhile, Hanna continues to enhance the southwest monsoon or “habagat,” which will dump rains over Western Visayas, Mindoro, Ilocos Norte and Apayao. Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms are expected over Zamboanga Peninsula, Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon and Visayas. The rest of Mindanao will have a generally fair weather aside from possible isolated thunderstorms.


Due to habagat, sea conditions remain rough to very rough over the seaboards of Luzon, Panay Island, and Visayas and Mindanao. All fishing boats and other small seacraft are still prohibited to travel as wave height could reach 4.5 meters.


Aurelio says that in the coming days, the effect of habagat will be concentrated over Luzon, while areas in Visayas and Mindanao will experience improved weather conditions.


On the other hand, the tropical cyclone outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) intensifies into a tropical storm, now being called “Molave.” According to Aurelio, it is expected to move north, thus, has a slim chance of entering our boundary.


This August, 2 to 4 tropical cyclones are expected to prevail in the PAR.

Typhoon Hanna, still within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), was located at 395 kilometers east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes at 10:00AM today. It maintained its strength, packing winds of 165 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 200 kilometers per hour. Hanna is expected to move west-northwest at 20 kilometers per hour. PAGASA Weather Forecaster Benison Estareja says if its velocity does not change, it will possibly leave the PAR by Saturday noon.

As Hanna moves closer towards Batanes-Taiwan area, storm signals are still up over some parts of Northern Luzon. These include Batanes province and Itbayat under Signal Number 2 while Signal Number 1 is raised over Calayan and Babuyan group of islands, along with the Northern Cagayan.



Stormy weather will prevail over these areas. Despite the slim chance of landfall activity, Hanna continues to enhance the southwest monsoon or “habagat”. Monsoon rains will be dumped over Western Visayas, Palawan and Mindoro, where flash flood and landslide could occur.

Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, SOCCSKSARGEN, ARMM, Bicol Region, Cagayan Valley, Ilocos, Cordillera, the rest of Visayas and the provinces of Marinduque and Romblon will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms. The rest of the country including Metro Manila will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms.

Aside from the monsoon rains, habagat will also affect the sea condition over the northern and eastern seaboard of Luzon, seaboards of Palawan, southern seaboard of Southern Luzon, seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao. Sea travel remains risky for fishing boats and other small sea craft due to rough to very rough sea condition.



Meanwhile, another tropical depression was spotted outside the PAR. According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Manny Mendoza, it was last located at approximately 2, 700 kilometers east of Luzon. As of now, it has a very slim chance of entering the boundary. However, all are still advised to monitor updates and further development.

The typhoon with international name “Soudelor” has already entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and was given a local name “Hanna”. At 9 AM today, the eye of the typhoon was estimated at 1,390 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan.

Packing winds of 215 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 250 kilometers per hour, it continues to move in a west-northwest direction at 20 kilometers per hour. If it maintains speed and direction, it is expected to exit the PAR by Saturday.

As of now, there is still a slim chance for Hanna to make landfall, but the enhancement of the southwest monsoon or “habagat” remains. Monsoon rains will be dumped over Mindanao, where flash floods and landslides are expected. Residents are alerted, as soil may already be saturated for those areas affected by the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) during the past few days.

Meanwhile, Visayas and the province of Palawan will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have generally fair weather aside from the possible isolated thunderstorms.

As habagat prevails, rough to very rough sea conditions are expected over the seaboards of Mindanao and the eastern seaboard of Visayas. Wave height could reach 4.5 meters, thus, sea travel is risky for small seacraft.

HANNA vs. YOLANDA

Yolanda of 2013 may be remembered as one of the strongest and destructive typhoons that made landfall on the Philippines. If we compare it with Hanna, it has the same intensity as Yolanda’s. As of now, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Meno Mendoza says both typhoons have maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 250 kilometers per hour.

Despite going to the same direction (west-northwest), Yolanda and Hanna differ in terms of track. Yolanda traversed the Visayas region and parts of Southern Luzon, while Hanna has a slim chance of hitting any part of the country.