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,