MANILA – Tropical Depression Julian continues to hover over the Philippine Sea, prompting PAGASA to raise Signal No. 1 over three areas in Northern Luzon as the weather system maintains strength but moves at a slower pace.

As of 3 a.m. Saturday (28 Sept 2024) Julian was located approximately 430 km east of Calayan, Cagayan, or 410 km east of Aparri, Cagayan, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center, gusts reaching up to 70 kph, and a southward movement at 10 kph.

Signal No. 1 has been raised over Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands; the northeastern portion of Isabela (covering municipalities like San Pablo, Divilacan, Maconacon, Palanan, and more); and the eastern part of Apayao (including towns such as Luna, Pudtol, Santa Marcela, and Flora).

PAGASA forecasts that Julian will intensify further, potentially reaching tropical storm status by Saturday afternoon and strengthening into a typhoon by Monday. The tropical system may make landfall over Batanes by Monday afternoon or evening before exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) between Wednesday evening (October 2) and early Thursday morning (October 3).

Julian is expected to trace a looping path over the waters east of Batanes and Cagayan, initially moving southwestward before veering westward on Saturday afternoon. It will then shift generally northwestward from Sunday until Tuesday, eventually heading northward to north-northeastward towards the latter part of the forecast period.

Rains with gusty winds are anticipated over Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands, while Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Batanes, and Isabela will experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country can expect partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers due to localized thunderstorms. Northern Luzon will experience moderate to strong winds with moderate to rough coastal waters, while the rest of the country will have light to moderate winds with slight to moderate seas.

ia/mnm