MANILA – Typhoon Julian has intensified into a super typhoon, with maximum sustained winds reaching 185 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts up to 230 kph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Tuesday (01 Oct 2024).
The super typhoon was last located 205 kilometers west of Itbayat, Batanes, moving slowly in a west-northwest direction.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 is now in effect over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, northern parts of Ilocos Norte, and the northwestern portion of mainland Cagayan. Gale-force winds are expected in these areas.
Other parts of Northern Luzon, including Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, and parts of the Cordillera Administrative Region, remain under TCWS No. 1, with strong winds and gusts likely to prevail.
PAGASA has issued a gale warning over the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon, warning that sea travel remains highly risky.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that over 22,000 families across Northern Luzon have been affected by the typhoon. While no casualties have been reported so far, evacuations are ongoing, with some families seeking shelter in designated centers. Damage to property, particularly houses, has been reported in the Ilocos Region and CAR.
Julian is forecasted to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Thursday afternoon or evening.
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