MANILA, Philippines – The weather bureau advised more provinces to brace for rain from Typhoon Julian (Krathon), which maintained its strength over the Philippine Sea late Sunday afternoon, September 29.
As of 4 pm on Sunday, Julian was located 235 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan, moving northwest at 15 kilometers per hour (km/h).
The typhoon still has maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h, while its gustiness is up to 150 km/h.
But the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Julian will intensify in the next 24 to 36 hours as it heads for the Batanes-Babuyan Islands area. It might even strengthen into a super typhoon.
Julian is projected to move generally west northwest to north northwest toward the Batanes-Babuyan Islands area from Sunday to Tuesday morning, October 1, then north northeast over the waters east of Taiwan beginning Tuesday afternoon. Taiwan is within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
By Monday, September 30, Julian is “highly likely” to make landfall in Batanes and/or Babuyan Islands, or pass very close to these areas.
PAGASA’s latest rainfall advisory for Julian, issued at 5 pm on Sunday, already includes Pangasinan, Zambales, and Bataan.
Sunday afternoon, September 29, to Monday afternoon, September 30
- Intense to torrential rain (above 200 millimeters): Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): mainland Cagayan, Ilocos Sur, Abra
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Apayao, La Union, Mountain Province, Benguet, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan
Monday afternoon, September 30, to Tuesday afternoon, October 1
- Intense to torrential rain (above 200 mm): Batanes, Babuyan Islands
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Ilocos Norte, Abra
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): mainland Cagayan, Apayao, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Benguet
Tuesday afternoon, October 1, to Wednesday afternoon, October 2
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Batanes
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte
For the rest of Sunday, other areas in Cagayan Valley, the Ilocos Region, and the Cordillera Administrative Region not mentioned above may have rain with gusty winds from Julian.
The trough or extension of the typhoon can also trigger scattered rain and thunderstorms in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and much of Central Luzon.
The rest of the country, not affected by Julian, will continue to have generally fair weather, with just localized thunderstorms.
Meanwhile, these are the areas where tropical cyclone wind signals are in effect as of 5 pm on Sunday:
Signal No. 3
Storm-force winds (89 to 117 km/h), moderate to significant threat to life and property
- Batanes
- northeastern part of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Island)
Signal No. 2
Gale-force winds (62 to 88 km/h), minor to moderate threat to life and property
- mainland Cagayan
- rest of Babuyan Islands (Camiguin Island, Calayan Island, Dalupiri Island, Fuga Island)
- Apayao
- northern and central parts of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Adams, Dumalneg, Bangui, Burgos, Pasuquin, Vintar, Carasi, Nueva Era, Solsona, Piddig, Dingras, Sarrat, San Nicolas, Laoag City, Bacarra)
Signal No. 1
Strong winds (39 to 61 km/h), minimal to minor threat to life and property
- rest of Ilocos Norte
- Ilocos Sur
- La Union
- Abra
- Kalinga
- Ifugao
- Mountain Province
- Benguet
- Isabela
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Quirino
- northern and central parts of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao)
The highest tropical cyclone wind signal due to Julian could be Signal No. 4.
PAGASA added that “the wind flow coming towards the circulation” of the typhoon may 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
In the next 24 hours, very rough sea conditions will continue in the seaboards of Batanes (waves up to 9 meters high) and the seaboards of Babuyan Islands (waves up to 8 meters high). PAGASA said travel is risky for most types of vessels.
Rough sea conditions will persist in the northern seaboard of mainland Cagayan and the northern seaboard of Ilocos Norte (waves up to 4.5 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 are 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, the Philippines’ 10th tropical cyclone for 2024 and sixth tropical cyclone for September alone, could exit PAR on Thursday, October 3.
The other tropical cyclone that PAGASA has been monitoring, the tropical storm with the international name Jebi, is not expected to enter PAR. – Rappler.com
