The latest storm information from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said that at 5:00 a.m. on September 30, the center of storm Krathon (Julian) was at approximately 19.9 degrees north latitude, 122.2 degrees east longitude, over the waters of Balintang, Calayan, Cagayan. The strongest wind near the center of the storm increased to 155 km/h (level 14), gusting to 190 km/h (level 16), central pressure 950 hPa.
The storm is moving west at 10km per hour and continues to strengthen. Hurricane-force winds extend up to 560km from the center of the storm.
Meanwhile, according to the Vietnam National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, during the day and night of September 30, the low pressure trough with an axis at about 19-22 degrees north latitude connecting with storm Krathon is expected to cause winds gradually increasing to level 6-7, gusting to level 9 in the east of the North East Sea area (from longitude 116-120 degrees east longitude); especially in the east of longitude 118.5 at night, there will be strong winds of level 8-10, gusting to level 12. The sea will be very rough. Waves will be 3-5m high.
In its latest typhoon forecast, PAGASA said Julian would move west-northwest through the Balintang Channel on September 30 and pass very close to Balintang and Batanes islands. "There is still a possibility of a typhoon making landfall in these areas," the weather agency added.
But even if the storm does not make landfall, it will be "at its closest position to the Batanes and Babuyan Islands" from morning to afternoon on September 30.
PAGASA has issued Storm Wind Signal No. 4 (the highest level), warning of winds of 118 to 184 km/h, posing a serious threat to life and property north of Babuyan and Calayan Islands.
On September 30, PAGASA also warned of heavy to very heavy rain (over 200 mm) in Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte; 100-200 mm in mainland Cagayan, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Apayao, Abra, Benguet.
For coastal waters, very rough seas are expected along the coast of Batanes (waves up to 14 meters) and the coast of Babuyan Islands (waves up to 10 meters); the northern coast of Ilocos Norte (waves up to 6 meters) as well as the northern coast of mainland Cagayan and the rest of Ilocos Norte (waves up to 5 meters).
PAGASA said Julian could strengthen into a super typhoon on October 1.
Julian will then turn mainly northeast toward Taiwan (China) on October 2 and begin to weaken due to rough terrain there.
Julian is the 10th tropical storm to hit the Philippines in the 2024 typhoon season and the sixth tropical storm in September alone.
The other tropical storm PAGASA is monitoring is Typhoon Jebi, internationally named, which is not expected to enter the Philippine forecast area (PAR).
