MANILA — Super Typhoon Inday entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) before dawn Wednesday, prompting PAGASA to place additional areas in Northern Luzon under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1.
According to PAGASA’s 5 a.m. weather bulletin, Signal No. 1 has been raised over Batanes, Cagayan including the Babuyan Islands, northern and central Isabela, Apayao, eastern Kalinga, northern Aurora, and northern and central Catanduanes.
Weather specialist Chenel Dominguez said the warning indicates the possibility of minimal to minor impacts from strong winds.
As of 3 a.m., Inday’s center was estimated at 1,405 kilometers east of Northern Luzon. The weather disturbance continues to move generally westward at 25 kilometers per hour, carrying maximum sustained winds of 185 kph and gusts of up to 230 kph.
While the super typhoon remains far from the country’s landmass, PAGASA said its outer circulation is enhancing the southwest monsoon, which will continue to affect large parts of the country.
Strong to gale-force winds are expected across Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, CALABARZON, most of MIMAROPA, the Bicol Region, the Visayas, and Mindanao.
The weather bureau also warned that rough to very rough sea conditions may develop along the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon and the Visayas, with gale warnings likely to be issued later in the day.
Dominguez emphasized that the southwest monsoon—not the direct effects of Inday—is expected to bring widespread rainfall over several areas.
Residents of the Zamboanga Peninsula, BARMM, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and South Cotabato should expect cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.
Meanwhile, Palawan, the rest of the Visayas and Mindanao, as well as Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon, may experience isolated rain showers and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon and localized weather systems.
PAGASA forecasts that Inday will gradually weaken into a typhoon by Thursday before leaving the Philippine Area of Responsibility on July 11.
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