“JULIAN” intensified into a typhoon yesterday but is forecast to be out of the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by today or tomorrow, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.
Weather specialist Joey Figuracion said Julian is not directly affecting the country because it remains far from the landmass although it is enhancing the southwest monsoon.
Figuracion said Julian is expected intensify and reach its peak strength as a typhoon. A tropical cyclone with maximum wind speed of 118 kph to 220 kph is classified as a typhoon.
As of 3 p.m. yesterday, Julian was some 780 km east of Aparri, Cagayan, moving northward at 20 kph.and packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph.
Julian was forecast to be some 655 km east northwest of Basco, Batanes this morning, and 765 km north northeast of Basco (outside PAR) on Tuesday morning.
Julian developed into a tropical depression on Friday morning and a tropical storm later that day.
PAGASA said Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, Western Visayas, and Samar provinces will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon and Julian.