Typhoon “Julian” (international name: Krathon) has intensified into a super typhoon and is now moving slowly, the state weather bureau said.
PAGASA in a 5 a.m. weather bulletin warns of possible minor to moderate impacts from gale-force winds within any of the localities where Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 is hoisted which include Batanes, Babuyan Islands, the northern portion of Ilocos Norte, and the northwestern portion of mainland Cagayan.
Meanwhile, TCWS No.1 is raised over the rest of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, the rest of mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, the northern portion of Aurora, and the northern portion of Nueva Ecija.
The weather disturbance is forecast to recurve towards the sea southwest of Taiwan today through early morning tomorrow, October 2.
According to PAGASA, the super typhoon still has a window for brief intensification in the next 24 hours before slightly weakening as it passes over Taiwan and being downgraded into a severe tropical storm on Thursday.
The super typhoon’s center was last estimated 205 km west of Itbayat, Batanes, slowly moving West Northwestward with maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 230 km/h.
On the track forecast, “Julian” is expected to move northeastward towards the East China Sea, exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday afternoon or evening, then turn northwestward on Friday once over the East China Sea.
In an 11 a.m. advisory, PAGASA said that ‘Julian’ slightly intensified but is now outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), with a possibility of re-entering on Wednesday, October 2.
“Due to weak steering, sudden change in the forecast track is likely,” it warned.
