'Huaning' maintains strength; Signal #2 over Batanes

MANILA, Philippines - Typhoon "Huaning" has maintained its intensity as it moves closer to the vicinity of Batanes and Taiwan, the state weather bureau said on Friday.

In its latest bulletin issued at 11 a.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Huaning was located at 410 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes.

The typhoon was weakened, packing maximum sustained winds of 165 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 200 kph.

The eighth tropical cyclone to enter the country this year is projected to move west northwest at 20 kph.

Public storm warning signal No. 2 has been raised over the Batanes Group of Islands, where winds of 61 to 100 kph are expected in at least 24 hours.

The Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands is also under public storm warning signal no. 1.

Huaning is expected to be at 420 km North of Itbayat, Batanes in the northern boundary of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Saturday morning or in the vicinity of Northern Taiwan, according to PAGASA.

The agency said estimated rainfall amount within the 900 km diameter of the typhoon is from 4–22 millimeters per hour (moderate - intense).

In its 24-hour weather forecast, PAGASA said the Batanes Group of Islands will experience rains with gusty winds.

The regions of Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly and the rest of the country will be partly cloudyt to cloudy with isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms.