Metro Manila, Philippines – Typhoon ‘Julian’ is likely to intensify into a super typhoon soon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its latest bulletin.
Forecasters last spotted the storm over the coastal waters of Balintang Island in Calayan, Cagayan, packing maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour (km/h) and gusts of up to 215 km/h. It was taking a northwestward track at 10 km/h. PAGASA said ‘Julian’ may likely make landfall over Balintang island and Batanes.“The typhoon will begin recurving tomorrow while moving slowly, then turn generally northeastward on Wednesday towards the southwestern coast of Taiwan, where it is forecast to make landfall on Wednesday morning or afternoon. Julian may briefly leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) during this period but bulletins are expected to continue,” the weather bureau said.
Cyclone Wind Signal Number 4 is up over Batanes and the northern portion of Babuyan islands.
The rest of Babuyan Islands and the northeastern portion of Cagayan are under Signal Number 3.Meanwhile, wind Signal Number 2 is hoisted over six areas in Northern Luzon. These are:
+ The rest of mainland Cagayan
+ Apayao
+ Northern portion of Abra
+ Northern portion Kalinga
+ Ilocos Norte
+ Northern portion of Ilocos Sur
The following areas are under the lowest storm alert:
+ The rest of Ilocos Sur
+ La Union
+ Pangasinan
+ the rest of Abra
+ the rest of Kalinga
+ Ifugao
+ Mountain Province
+ Benguet
+ Isabela
+ Nueva Vizcaya
+ Quirino
+ Aurora
+ Northern and eastern portions of Nueva Ecija
+ Polillo Islands
On the other hand, the trough of ‘Julian’ will trigger scattered rains over Metro Manila, Calabarzon, parts of Bicol and Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan (Mimaropa), and the rest of Central Luzon.
