'Henry' intensifies; 4 areas under storm signal

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon "Henry" has intensified as it continues to move closer to extreme Northern Luzon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Monday.

The state weather bureau said in its latest bulletin that the eye of the typhoon was located at 340 kilometers northeast of Virac, Catanduanes at 4 a.m.

The eight tropical cyclone to enter the Philippines this year, Henry is packed with maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 160 kph.

Public storm warning signal no. 1 has been hoisted over Batanes Group of Islands, Cagayan including Babuyan and Calayan Group of Islands.

Moderate to heavy rainfall amount (7.5 to 15 millimeter per hour) has been estimated within the 500-kilometer diameter of the typhoon.

PAGASA said Henry and the enhanced southwest monsoon or "Habagat" are expected to bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms over Cagayan Valley, Mimaropa, Bicol region, Visayas and Aurora province.

"Residents in these areas are advised to be alert against possible flashfloods and landslides," the agency said.

Forecast to move northwest at 20 kph, Henry is expected to be at 275 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan by Tuesday morning and at 200 kilometers northwest of Basco, Batanes by Wednesday morning.

By Thursday morning, Henry is expected to be at 655 kilometers northwest of Basco, Batanes.

PAGASA is advising fisherfolk and those with small seacrafts not to venture out over the eastern seaboard of Northern and Central Luzon, the seaboards of Southern Luzon and Visayas and over the northern and eastern seaboards of Mindanao.