Huaning exits Phl, but rains still expected over Luzon, Visayas

MANILA, Philippines - Typhoon Huaning left the Philippine area of responsibility yesterday but the state weather bureau continued to warn fishermen not to venture out to the seaboards of northern and central Luzon due to big waves generated by the tropical cyclone.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) lifted all public storm warning signals as of 11 a.m. yesterday.

PAGASA said the southwest monsoon will bring cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms over Luzon and western Visayas in the next 24 hours.

The rest of the country, meanwhile, will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

As of 10 a.m. yesterday, the eye of the typhoon was spotted at 450 kilometers north of Itbayat, Batanes, packing winds of 140 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph.

It was forecast to move northwest at 20 kph and was expected over southern China last night.

PAGASA said Huaning weakened after making landfall over northern Taiwan yesterday morning.

It was predicted to be 630 km north northwest of Itbayat or 240 km northwest of northern Taiwan last night.

Huaning was expected to bring moderate to torrential rain (four to 35 millimeters per hour) within its 700-km radius.

It was the eighth tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the first weather disturbance this month.

PAGASA said three or four cyclones are likely to visit the Philippines in July.