Typhoon “Julian” (international name: Krathon) is moving away from Batanes toward the northwestern boundary of the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) and was forecast to reach supertyphoon status yesterday evening, PAGASA reported.
Its center was last estimated 95 kilometers west-southwest of Itbayat, Batanes.
In Tarlac, President Marcos on Monday said the government is closely monitoring the movement of Typhoon Julian as it intensifies while moving northwest.
“Let’s all stay safe. We are closely watching Typhoon Julian, and the government is ready to offer help to those in need,” President Marcos said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that Typhoon Julian has maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 240 km/h as it continues moving northwest.
PAGASA raised Typhoon Signal No. 4 over Batanes and the northern portion of Babuyan Islands, warning that a “very intense typhoon will affect the locality.”
Residents in low-lying areas and along riverbanks were urged to evacuate, while those near the coast were advised to stay away due to the risk of flooding and storm surges.
Signal No. 3 was hoisted over the rest of Babuyan Islands and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan, including Santa Ana. Signal No. 2 was raised in the rest of mainland Cagayan, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Ilocos Norte, and the northern and central portions of Ilocos Sur.
Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 was placed over the rest of Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Benguet, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Aurora, parts of Nueva Ecija, and Polillo Islands.
Moving west-northwestward at 15 kilometers per hour (kph), Julian has maximum sustained winds of 175 kph and gusts up to 215 kph. Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 4 remains hoisted over Batanes, which means intense wind speeds expected to cause considerable to very heavy damage.
