Julian intensifies into tropical storm

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 was raised over five areas in Luzon as Julian intensified into a tropical storm on Saturday, PAGASA said.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said under signal no. 1, the following areas in Luzon will experience strong winds of 39 to 61 km/h with minimal to minor threat to life and property:

• Batanes
• Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
• The northern and eastern portions of Isabela (San Pablo, Divilacan, Maconacon, Palanan, Cabagan, Santa Maria, Tumauini, Ilagan City, San Mariano, Santo Tomas, Delfin Albano, Dinapigue)
• Apayao
• Ilocos Norte

 

 

PAGASA said the highest wind signal that may be hoisted during the occurrence of Julian is Wind Signal No. 4.

Track and intensity outlook

According to PAGASA, Tropical Storm Julian is forecast to move west southwestward or westward on Saturday, then generally northwestward on Sunday (September 29) through Monday (September 30) towards the Batanes-Babuyan Islands area, before accelerating north northeastward over the waters east of Taiwan on Tuesday (October 1) onwards.

Based on the track forecast, PAGASA is not ruling out a landfall or close approach scenario on Monday over Batanes and/or Babuyan Islands.

 

Further, TS Julian will continue to intensify throughout the forecast period and may reach typhoon category on Monday.

"There is an increasing likelihood of rapid intensification, and the possibility of reaching super typhoon category is not ruled out," PAGASA said.

PAGASA added that the tropical cyclone will be closest to Batanes and/or Babuyan Islands at or near peak intensity.

As of 10 a.m., the center of Tropical Storm Julian was estimated based on all available data at 465 km east of Aparri, Cagayan (18.8 °N, 126.0°E). Moving south southeastward slowly, it has maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 80 km/h, and central pressure of 1000 hPa.

Further, Tropical Storm Julian's strong to gale-force winds extend outwards up to 380 km from its center.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News