The latest storm news from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that at 4:00 a.m. on October 2, the center of storm Julian (known as storm number 5 Krathon in the Philippines) was at about 21.4 degrees north latitude, 119.2 degrees east longitude, in the northeastern sea of the North East Sea, 280km northwest of Itbayat, Batanes (Philippines).
The strongest wind near the storm center is level 14-15 (150-183 km/h), gusting over level 17; moving west-northwest, speed about 5 km/h, central pressure is 945 hPa. Strong winds spread up to 650 km from the storm center.
In the next 24 hours, very rough seas are forecast with waves up to 5 meters high on the Batanes coast; 4.5 meters high on the Babuyan Islands coast and the northern coast of Ilocos Norte; 4 meters high on the remaining coast of Ilocos Norte.
According to PAGASA's typhoon forecast, there has been a significant change in the forecast track of the storm. The storm is still forecast to turn northeast towards the southwest coast of Taiwan (China), expected to make landfall tonight (October 2) or early tomorrow morning (October 3).
After making landfall, Typhoon Krathon is forecast to move erratically over land and coastal waters of Taiwan (China) before appearing in the Taiwan Strait on Friday evening (October 4) or early Saturday morning (October 5).
Typhoon Krathon will then move southwest through the Taiwan Strait and the southern waters of mainland China.
Currently, there is no dominant weather system that can influence the general movement of Typhoon Krathon. Therefore, the possibility of a significant change in the forecast track of the storm cannot be ruled out.
The super typhoon will continue to weaken due to a combination of northeasterly winds blowing into the East China Sea and Taiwan Strait as well as lower ocean heat content in the vicinity.
Krathon is expected to weaken further as it makes landfall in Taiwan (China) due to frictional effects. The tropical cyclone could become a remnant low pressure area by the weekend.
According to the current forecast of the Vietnam National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, storm No. 5 Krathon is unlikely to affect coastal and inland areas of Vietnam.
Super Typhoon Krathon is the second super typhoon to hit the East Sea in less than a month, after Super Typhoon No. 3 Yagi. This is an unprecedented precedent in the history of the region. These deadly super typhoons have been appearing with increasing frequency in recent years, spreading terror to the affected areas.
