LPA east of Batanes develops into Tropical Depression Julian
MANILA, Philippines – The low pressure area (LPA) east of Batanes developed into a tropical depression at 2 am on Friday, September 27.
It is the Philippines’ 10th tropical cyclone for 2024, and has been given the local name Julian. It is also the sixth tropical cyclone for September alone.
As of 4 am on Friday, Julian was located 525 kilometers east of Itbayat, Batanes, moving south southwest at 15 kilometers per hour (km/h).
The tropical depression has maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h and gustiness of up to 70 km/h.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Julian is expected to “follow a looping path over the waters east of Batanes and Cagayan in the next five days.”
It may also intensify into a tropical storm on Friday evening or Saturday morning, September 28; a severe tropical storm by Sunday, September 29; and a typhoon by Tuesday, October 1.
Julian will be bringing scattered rain and thunderstorms to Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, and Isabela on Friday. The rest of the country, not affected by the tropical depression, will have generally fair weather with just localized thunderstorms during the day.
Rain from Julian is seen to worsen during the weekend, becoming moderate to heavy on Saturday, then moderate to intense on Sunday.
Saturday, September 28
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 millimeters): Ilocos Norte, Batanes, Cagayan
Sunday, September 29
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Batanes, Babuyan Islands
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Ilocos Norte, Apayao, mainland Cagayan
Floods and landslides are possible.
For strong winds, Signal No. 1 might be raised for parts of Cagayan Valley on Friday, according to PAGASA.
The weather bureau added that the highest tropical cyclone wind signal due to Julian could be Signal No. 2 or 3.
Strong to gale-force gusts may also hit these areas because of Julian:
Saturday, September 28
- Aurora, Quezon, Bicol
Sunday, September 29
- Aurora, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Romblon, Marinduque, Bicol, Western Visayas, Negros Occidental, Northern Samar
In addition, PAGASA warned of up to moderate seas in the seaboards of Batanes, Cagayan, and Isabela, with waves up to 2.5 meters high in the next 24 hours. Small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible. – Rappler.com