Manila: Typhoon Inday has further weakened, now packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour with gusts reaching up to 185 kph, as reported by the weather bureau on Friday. It was positioned 620 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes at 4 a.m., moving in a northwest direction at 20 kilometers per hour, stated the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

According to Philippines News Agency, gale-force winds are expected in areas where wind signal number 2 is currently in effect, specifically Batanes, the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (including Babuyan Island, Didicas Island, Camiguin Island), and the northeastern part of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana). Areas under wind signal number 1, including the rest of the Babuyan Islands, the remaining parts of mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, the northern portion of Abra, Kalinga, as well as the eastern parts of Mountain Province and Ifugao, and Ilocos Norte, will experience strong winds.

PAGASA has indicated that much of the country will continue to experience strong to gale-force gusts as a result of the enhanced southwest monsoon, or habagat, and the periphery of Inday. A gale warning remains in effect over the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon.

In addition, Inday is expected to bring heavy rains across Batanes. The habagat will lead to heavy to intense rainfall in Occidental Mindoro and Antique, with moderate to heavy rains forecasted for Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Zamboanga del Sur, Lanao del Norte, and Lanao del Sur.

Inday is forecast to maintain its status as a typhoon as it exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Saturday. PAGASA Administrator Nathaniel Servando informed the Philippine News Agency that wind signal number 1 might still be raised in Batanes even after Inday exits PAR. He added that Inday would continue to enhance the habagat despite being downgraded to a typhoon.