By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz A much stronger cyclone “Hanna” (international name “Lekima”) moved slowly off the coast of Cagayan province Tuesday. (PAGASA / MANILA BULLETIN) Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather specialist Benison Estareja said severe tropical storm Hanna may further intensify into a typhoon by Thursday, as the warm waters fuel the tropical cyclone. A tropical cyclone is classified as a typhoon if it has maximum wind speed of 118 kph to 220 kph. As of Tuesday afternoon, Hanna grew stronger packing maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 125 kph. From being almost stationary, Hanna was moving slowly at 10 kph north-northwest. It was last located 780 kilometers (km) east of Calayan, Cagayan around 3 p.m. on Tuesday. The trough or advancing clouds of Hanna may affect Cagayan Valley, although the cyclone is still less likely to make landfall. It is forecast to move north towards the northern tip of Taiwan by Friday, Estareja said. He said the cyclone-enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat) will continue to induce moderate to heavy rains over Zambales, Bataan, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Aklan, Antique, Negros Occidental, Capiz, Guimaras, and Iloilo. Meanwhile, cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms will be experienced over Metro Manila, Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Masbate, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and the rest of Visayas. Metro Manila is most likely to experience sunny periods in the morning and sudden heavy rains and thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening in the next few days. The public should remain alert for possible flash floods and rain-induced landslides, especially in areas identified to be highly or very highly susceptible to floods and landslides. A gale warning also remains in effect. PAGASA warned fisherfolk and those with small sea crafts against sailing into the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas and the northern and eastern seaboards of Mindanao due to big waves generated by Hanna and the habagat. Hanna is forecast to leave the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Friday. PAGASA is also monitoring a tropical depression and low pressure area near the country’s vicinity. The tropical depression outside the PAR was estimated 2,245 km east of Northern Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph and gustiness of up to 70 kph. It is moving northwest at 20 kph but has a slim chance of entering the PAR. Meanwhile, the LPA west of Luzon was estimated at 365 km west of Iba, Zambales, but may not develop into a tropical depression.