Inday weakens into typhoon; TCWS No. 1 still hoisted in several areas

MANILA, July 9 ------ Tropical cyclone Inday has weakened into a typhoon, the weather bureau said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Inday packs maximum sustained winds of 175 km per hour near the cente and gusts of up to 215 kph. Inday was located 925 km east of northern Luzon as of 4 a.m., moving west northwest at 20 kph.

Despite the cyclone's weakening, wind signal no. 1 is still hoisted in Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, the northeastern portion of Quirino (Maddela), Apayao, the northern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lagayan, Danglas, San Juan, Lagangilang, Licuan-Baay, Malibcong, Lacub, Daguioman, Dolores, La Paz), Kalinga, the eastern portion of Mountain Province (Natonin, Paracelis), the eastern portion of Ifugao (Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista), Ilocos Norte, the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran), and the northern and central portions of Catanduanes (Pandan, Caramoran, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Gigmoto, Baras, San Miguel)

Strong winds will prevail in those areas.

The bureau added that most of the country will also experience strong to gale-force gusts caused by the southwest monsoon or habagat and Inday's periphery. Gale warning is in effect over the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon, and the eastern seaboard of Visayas. Meanwhile, PAGASA said Inday will gradually weaken, but possibly remain as a typhoon until it exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday.

Source: pna.gov.ph