As of 5 am on Sunday, September 29, Signal No. 2 is in effect for the northeastern part of mainland Cagayan and the eastern part of Babuyan Islands due to Severe Tropical Storm Julian (Krathon)
MANILA, Philippines – Julian (Krathon) strengthened from a tropical storm into a severe tropical storm early Sunday, September 29, with its maximum sustained winds now at 95 kilometers per hour from the previous 85 km/h.
Its gustiness is now up to 115 km/h from 105 km/h, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in a briefing past 5 am on Sunday.
Julian was last spotted 305 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan, moving west northwest at only 10 km/h.
It could intensify further into a typhoon on Sunday evening or early Monday morning, September 30.
PAGASA reiterated that there is a “high chance of rapid intensification,” and the possibility of Julian reaching super typhoon status is “not ruled out.”
Julian is projected to move generally northwest to west northwest toward the Batanes-Babuyan Islands area from Sunday to Tuesday morning, October 1, then north to north northeast over the waters east of Taiwan for the rest of Tuesday onwards. Taiwan is within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
By Monday, Julian is “highly likely” to make landfall in Batanes and/or Babuyan Islands, or pass very close to their area, which is considered extreme Northern Luzon. The tropical cyclone will also be closest to extreme Northern Luzon at or near peak intensity.
At 5 am on Sunday, PAGASA raised Signal No. 2 due to Julian for the first time. Here are the areas under tropical cyclone wind signals:
Signal No. 2
Gale-force winds (62 to 88 km/h), minor to moderate threat to life and property
- northeastern part of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana)
- eastern part of Babuyan Islands (Camiguin Island, Babuyan Island)
Signal No. 1
Strong winds (39 to 61 km/h), minimal to minor threat to life and property
- Batanes
- rest of mainland Cagayan
- rest of Babuyan Islands
- Isabela
- Apayao
- Abra
- Kalinga
- eastern and central parts of Mountain Province (Natonin, Paracelis, Sadanga, Barlig, Bontoc)
- eastern part of Ifugao (Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista, Mayoyao)
- Ilocos Norte
- northern part of Ilocos Sur (Sinait, Cabugao, San Juan, Magsingal, Santo Domingo, Bantay, San Ildefonso, San Vicente)
- northern part of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran)
The highest tropical cyclone wind signal due to Julian could be Signal No. 4.
PAGASA added that “the wind flow coming towards [Julian’s circulation] may also bring strong to gale-force gusts” to these areas:
Sunday, September 29
- Aurora, Calabarzon, Romblon, Bicol
Monday, September 30
- Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Aurora, Quezon, Romblon, Bicol
The weather bureau also updated its rainfall forecast for the severe tropical storm, which will be bringing moderate to intense rain on Sunday and moderate to torrential rain from Monday to Tuesday. Northern Luzon must stay on alert for floods and landslides.
Sunday, September 29
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 millimeters): Batanes, Babuyan Islands
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): mainland Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Apayao, Abra
Monday, September 30
- Intense to torrential rain (above 200 mm): Batanes, Babuyan Islands
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): mainland Cagayan, Ilocos Norte
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Apayao, Abra, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Benguet
Tuesday, October 1
- Intense to torrential rain (above 200 mm): Batanes, Babuyan Islands
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Apayao, Abra, Ilocos Norte
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Ilocos Sur, mainland Cagayan
On Sunday, scattered rain and thunderstorms due to Julian may also hit the rest of Northern Luzon, as well as Central Luzon and Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes.
The rest of Luzon, including Metro Manila, could have isolated rain showers or thunderstorms from the trough or extension of the severe tropical storm.
The Visayas and Mindanao, not affected by Julian, will continue to have generally fair weather. They may just see localized thunderstorms on Sunday.
ALSO ON RAPPLER
In the next 24 hours, very rough sea conditions are expected in the seaboards of Batanes (waves up to 8 meters high) and the seaboards of Babuyan Islands (waves up to 6 meters high). PAGASA said travel is risky for most types of vessels.
Rough sea conditions are likely in the northern seaboard of mainland Cagayan and the northern seaboard of Ilocos Norte (waves up to 4 meters high), the remaining seaboard of Cagayan and the seaboard of Isabela (waves up to 3.5 meters high), and the seaboard of the northern part of Aurora (waves up to 3 meters high). Small vessels should not venture out to sea.
Moderate sea conditions will be seen in the remaining seaboard of Ilocos Norte (waves up to 2.5 meters high). Small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible.
Julian is the Philippines’ 10th tropical cyclone for 2024, and also the sixth tropical cyclone for September alone.
It may leave PAR on Thursday, October 3.
PAGASA also continues to monitor Tropical Storm Jebi, located outside PAR at 2,075 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon as of 3 am on Sunday.
The tropical storm accelerated, moving northwest at 25 km/h from the previous 10 km/h.
It slightly weakened, with its maximum sustained winds down to 65 km/h from 75 km/h. Its gustiness eased from 90 km/h to 80 km/h.
The weather bureau previously said Jebi is not expected to enter PAR. – Rappler.com
