Metro Manila, Philippines – Cyclone Julian has strengthened into a severe tropical storm, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported on Sunday, Sept. 29.
In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Julian has maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 115 kph.
Julian was last spotted 305 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan, moving 10 kph west northwestward.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 is raised over the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan and the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands.
Meanwhile, the following areas are under Signal No. 1:
+ rest of Cagayan
+ Isabela
+ Apayao
+ Abra
+ Kalinga
+ eastern and central portions of Mountain Province
+ eastern portion of Ifugao
+ Ilocos Norte
+ northern portion of Ilocos Sur
+ northern portion of Aurora
PAGASA issued a gale warning over the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon.
Julian may further intensify into a typhoon Sunday evening or Monday morning.
Based on PAGASA’s forecast, Julian may make landfall over Batanes and/or Babuyan Islands on Monday, Sept. 30.
+ Batanes
+ rest of Babuyan Islands
