Signal No. 4 up over northern Batanes as Kiko weakens more

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 remained over the northern portion of Batanes on Saturday as Typhoon Kiko (international name: Chanthu) weakened further while crossing the coastal waters of Itbayat, Batanes, PAGASA said in its 2 p.m. bulletin.

Wind signals were also raised over the following areas:

TCWS No. 3

• The rest of Batanes

TCWS No. 2

• The northern portion of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Island, Panuitan Island, Calayan Island)

TCWS No. 1

• The rest of Babuyan Islands
• the northern portion of Cagayan (Santa Ana, Santa Teresita, Buguey, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Ballesteros, Abulug, Pamplona, Sanchez-Mira, Claveria, Santa Praxedes, Gonzaga)
• the northeastern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud)

Heavy to intense with at times torrential rains are thus expected over Batanes in the next 24 hours, PAGASA said.

Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains will also be likely over Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Apayao, and Kalinga, where scattered to widespread flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible in areas highly or very highly susceptible to hazards.

Typhoon Kiko is also expected to enhance the southwest monsoon, bringing monsoon rains over Metro Manila, the rest of Ilocos Region, and the western sections of Central Luzon and Southern Luzon in the next 24 hours.

Based on the forecast track, Kiko will move generally northward beginning Saturday night and pass over the sea east of Taiwan (without ruling out the possibility of landfall).

Kiko is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility Sunday evening or on Monday early morning.

As of 1 p.m., the center of the eye of Typhoon Kiko was located based on all available data over the coastal waters of Itbayat, Batanes (20.9°N, 121.5°E).

It has maximum sustained winds of 195 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 240 km/h, and central pressure of 930 hPa.

It is moving north northwestward at 15 km/h, with strong winds or higher extend outwards up to 280 km from the center. -MDM/GMA News