APARRI — Tropical storm Julian has intensified, prompting the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to raise Signal No. 1 over several northern regions as of Saturday morning.
According to Philippines News Agency, Julian was located approximately 465 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan, at 11 a.m., exhibiting maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness up to 80 kilometers per hour. The storm is moving slowly in a south-southwest direction but is expected to shift towards a general northwest trajectory over the next few days.
Signal No. 1 is currently in effect for Batanes, Cagayan including the Babuyan Islands, selected areas of Isabela, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte. These areas are warned of potential impacts, with the storm projected to escalate further, possibly reaching typhoon strength by Monday. PAGASA forecasts Julian to move west southwestward or westward on Saturday, then shifting northwestward on Sunday through Monday, aiming towards the Batanes-Babuyan Islands area. It is then expected to accelerate north northeastward over the waters east of Taiwan by Tuesday.
The agency also warns of rough sea conditions along the seaboard of Cagayan and the northern seaboard of Ilocos Norte, advising mariners, especially those with small seacrafts or those inexperienced or with ill-equipped vessels, against venturing out to sea under these hazardous conditions.