Signal No. 1 up over Batanes; Kiko expected to exit PAR on Sunday

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 was raised over the province of Batanes on Sunday morning due to Typhoon Kiko’s (international name: Chanthu) strong winds, PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. weather bulletin.

All other TCWS previously raised were lifted.

At 10 a.m., Kiko’s eye was located at 395 km north of Itbayat, Batanes.

The typhoon has maximum sustained winds of 175 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 215 km/h, and central pressure of 940 hPa.

Kiko is moving north northeastward at 20 km/h.

From Kiko’s eye, strong winds or higher than that category are extending outward up to 480 km.

PAGASA said Kiko has maintained its strength as it moves over the sea east of Northern Taiwan.

Kiko is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Sunday afternoon.

Rainfall

PAGASA said Batanes will experience heavy to intense and at times torrential rains in the next 24 hours.

Babuyan Islands, meanwhile, will likely have moderate to heavy and at times intense rains.

These conditions may cause flooding which may be scattered or widespread, and include flash floods.

Rain-induced landslides meanwhile may result in areas highly prone to this hazard.

“Typhoon Kiko will continue to enhance the Southwest Monsoon, bringing monsoon rains over Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, and the western section of Central Luzon in the next 24 hours,” PAGASA said.

Winds

PAGASA said strong breeze to near gale strength winds will prevail in Batanes, which may result in very light damage to structures and vegetation.

Meanwhile, with Kiko enhancing the Southwest Monsoon, coastal and upland/mountain areas of Northern Luzon not under TCWS, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and Mimaropa will have occasional gusts reaching strong breeze to near gale strength in the next 24 hours.

High waves reaching the coast may cause flooding in low-lying coastal communities in Batanes.

Coastal waters

Seas will be rough to very rough (with waves up to 5 meters tall) over the seaboards of Batanes and Babuyan Islands in the next 24 hours. This makes sea travel risky for all types of sea vessels.

A gale warning was raised over the northern and western seaboards of Luzon that are not under TCWS and the eastern seaboard of Cagayan due to the enhanced monsoon.

Kiko is expected to move generally northward over the sea east of Taiwan and the East China Sea.

PAGASA said Kiko will further weaken but will remain a typhoon throughout the forecast period. —KG, GMA News