(Image grabbed from PAGASA's Facebook page)
MANILA -- Even though Super Typhoon Henry has slightly weakened, it is forecast to dampen and bring strong winds over Batanes and Babuyan Islands, the weather bureau said Thursday afternoon.
Moderate to heavy rains will prevail over Batanes, while light to moderate to heavy rains will be experienced over the Babuyan Islands.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal no. 1 has been hoisted over Batanes and the northeastern portion of the Babuyan Islands, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
Strong breeze to near gale strength winds is forecast in these areas.
"Henry" will also cause rough to very rough seas over the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon, including Batanes, Cagayan Including Babuyan Islands, and the northern coast of Ilocos Norte.
Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea while large sea vessels are alerted against big waves.
"Henry" packed maximum sustained winds of 185 kph near the center, and gustiness of up to 230 kph. It was last tracked 400 km. east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, moving south southwestward at 15 kph.
The tropical cyclone is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility either Saturday or Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Thursday afternoon said the airports it operates in Northern Luzon are "ready" for "Henry."
"Though Super Typhoon Henry is not set to make landfall in the Philippines, Northern Luzon airports in Itbayat and Basco have started securing the airport by relocating communication and navigation equipment to safer areas, removing markers and wind cones from the runway, as well as putting up shutters in windows and entryways of airport facility buildings," it said in a statement.
CAAP added that the airports in Tuguegarao, Bagabag, Palanan and Cauayan are also prepared.
"Our airport staff have been well-advised and trained to prepare for these circumstances, so we are strongly hoping that there will be no major damages to our airports," CAAP Area Center 2 Manager Sulyn Sagorsor said. (PNA)
