Tropical Storm ‘Henry’ enters PAR

Weather Bureau PAGASA says the tropical storm east of northern Mindanao has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and was named “Henry”.

At 10:00 AM today, the center of Tropical Storm ‘Henry’ was estimated based on all available data at 880 km East of Guiuan, Eastern Samar (10.8°N, 134.6°E).

‘Henry’ has maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph. It is forecast to move North Northwest at 7 kph.

PAGASA, however, says Tropical Storm ‘Henry’ will not yet affect any part of the country.

It also doesn’t look like it will be making landfall. Instead, it appears headed between Taiwan and Southern Japan.

Tropical Storm ‘Henry’ is expected to be at 970 km East of Borongan, Eastern Samar by tomorrow morning and at 1000 km East of Daet, Camarines Norte by Sunday morning.

By Monday morning, it is expected to be at 700 km East of Calayan.

 Today’s forecast

‘Henry’ is still too far to directly affect the Philippines, but Mindanao could begin to feel its effects by Sunday, with provinces north of that getting drenched as the system moves up.

For now, the southwest monsoon is affecting the western section of Luzon, but forecasters are looking at how ‘Henry’ interacts with it. They’re also monitoring rains associated with this system, especially in elevated areas and those prone to flooding.

Metro Manila, Central Luzon, CALABARZON and the provinces of Mindoro and Palawan will have occasional rains.

Cebu may experience a thunderstorm within the next 12 hours.

Considering how Typhoon ‘Glenda’ saturated some areas recently, more rains could mean possible flashfloods and landslides.

Metro Manila could be feeling monsoon rains from that system by Sunday or Monday, something along the lines of Typhoon ‘Maring’ in August last year.