Julian may become super typhoon; storm signals up

Tropical cyclone Julian further intensified into a typhoon yesterday afternoon, hours after it developed into a severe tropical storm, and may turn into a super typhoon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

- BELLA CARIASO

PAGASA said the eye of Julian (international name Krathon) was located 235 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan with maximum sustained winds of 120 km per hour near the center, gustiness of up to 150 kph as it moves north-northwestward at 15 kph.

PAGASA senior weather specialist Glaiza Escullar warned that Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 may be hoisted in extreme Northern Luzon once Julian becomes a super typhoon.

"Once Typhoon Julian approaches near Taiwan, it may reach the super typhoon category... Once it reaches super typhoon, we will raise wind signal number 4 in extreme Northern Luzon, particularly Babuyan Islands and Batanes," Escullar said.

Under PAGASA's Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal System, super typhoon is declared if the weather disturbance has sustained winds of 185 kph; typhoon, 118 to 184 kph; severe tropical storm, 89 to 117 kph; tropical storm, 62 to 88 kph and tropical depression less than 61 kph.

At a separate press briefing, PAGASA weather specialist Veronica Torres said Signal No. 3 has been hoisted over Batanes and the northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands.