Weather: 'Hanna' exiting PHL, to merge with typhoon

Tropical depression "Hanna" is moving away from Philippine territory and is expected to merge with an approaching typhoon, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Saturday. PAGASA forecaster Buddy Javier said Hanna is almost at the boundary of Philippine territory and is not likely to affect any part of the country. "Halos step out na siya, nasa boundary na ng Philippine area of responsibility. Sa tingin namin, hahatakin ito ng typhoon na nasa labas ng bansa," Javier said in an interview on dzBB radio. But he said the approaching typhoon, "Ma-on," is not likely to affect the Philippines either. Should Ma-on enter Philippine territory on Sunday, Javier said it will be locally codenamed "Ineng." "Hindi siya gaano makaaapekto direkta sa anumang bahagi ng ating bansa kung papasok man. Kaya lang, palalakasin niya ang habagat, pero ang distance niya sa kalupaan napakalayo," Javier said. Javier said their models show Hanna will eventually merge with Ma-on. As of 2 a.m. Saturday, PAGASA said Hanna was estimated at 1,040 km east of Virac Catanduanes, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph. It forecast Hanna to move east-northeast at 20 kph. "Southern Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms," PAGASA said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. — LBG, GMA News