Julian may become super typhoon; storm signals up

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical cyclone Julian further intensified into a typhoon yesterday afternoon, hours after it developed into a severe tropical storm, and may turn into a super typhoon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

PAGASA said the eye of Julian (international name Krathon) was located 235 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan with maximum sustained winds of 120 km per hour near the center, gustiness of up to 150 km/h as it moves north-northwestward at 15 km/h.

PAGASA senior weather specialist Glaiza Escullar warned that Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 may be hoisted in extreme Northern Luzon once Julian becomes a super typhoon.

“Once Typhoon Julian approaches near Taiwan, it may reach the super typhoon category... Once it reaches super typhoon, we will raise wind signal number 4 in extreme Northern Luzon, particularly Babuyan Islands and Batanes,” Escullar said.

Under PAGASA’s Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal System, super typhoon is declared if the weather disturbance has sustained winds of 185 km/h; typhoon, 118 to 184 km/h; severe tropical storm, 89 to 117 km/h; tropical storm, 62 to 88 km/h and tropical depression less than 61 km/h.

At a separate press briefing, PAGASA weather specialist Veronica Torres said Signal No. 3 has been hoisted over Batanes and the northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands.

Torres added that Signal No. 2 has been raised over mainland Cagayan, Camiguin Island, Calayan Island, Dalupiri Island, Fuga Island, Apayao and the northern and central portions of Ilocos Norte, including Pagudpud, Adams, Dumalneg, Bangui, Burgos, Pasuquin, Vintar, Carasi, Nueva Era, Solsona, Piddig, Dingras, Sarrat, San Nicolas, Laoag City and Bacarra, while Signal No. 1 has been hoisted over the rest of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra, Kalinga, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Benguet, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and the northern and central portions of Aurora, including Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan and Dipaculao.

“It is possible that Typhoon Julian will make landfall over Batanes or Babuyan Islands on Monday,” Torres said.

She added that Julian would bring severe winds in Aurora, Calabarzon, Romblon, Bicol, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Aurora and Quezon.

“Forecast rainfall are generally higher in elevated or mountainous areas. Flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible,” Torres said.

She added that gale warning has been raised over Batanes; Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands; northern coast of Ilocos Norte and Isabela as she warned of waves as high as 5.5 meters.

Intense to torrential rains or up to 200 millimeters of rains are expected in Batanes and Babuyan Islands and heavy to intense rains or 100-200 mm of rains in mainland Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, La Union, Apayao, Mountain Province and Benguet, according to the PAGASA weather specialist.

Julian is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility late Wednesday or early Thursday, according to Escullar.

PAGASA said Julian is forecast to move generally west-northwestward to northwestward until tomorrow morning toward the Batanes-Babuyan Islands area before accelerating north to north-northeastward over the waters east of Taiwan on tomorrow afternoon onwards.

The state weather bureau added that Julian is forecast to continue intensifying over the next 24 to 36 hours as it moves toward Batanes or Babuyan Island.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila will experience cloudy weather and up to moderate rains brought by Julian’s trough, according to Escullar.

“As we are already in the transition period, Julian will no longer enhance the southwest monsoon,” Escullar said.

Coast Guard on alert

Following these developments, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) District Northwestern Luzon (DNWL) has been placed on “alert” and prepared its personnel and assets for possible deployment to immediately respond to situations caused by Julian.

In a Facebook post, the PCG DNWL, which covers the provinces of La Union, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte, reported that its commander Commodore Ivan Roldan had already ordered the prepositioning of its personnel and assets in the event that it needs to conduct search and rescue operations because of Julian’s effects.

“PCG personnel in all ports throughout the region are on alert status to immediately respond to any eventuality that may be caused by the tropical cyclone,” the PCG DNWL said.

It added that all essential first-aid and rescue equipment, along with radio communication devices, are fully operational and ready for use in case of any emergencies.

“This is to ensure the safety and security of people within their areas of responsibility,” the PCG DNWL said.

It also gave assurance that they have stationed personnel in every port to quickly respond to any emergency.

Roldan had also given instructions to its sub-stations to coordinate with their respective local governments and constituents in case there is a need to evacuate and rescue residents.

The PCG DNWL also shared the hotline numbers and their sub-stations in its social media account. — Evelyn Macairan