Batanes now under Signal No. 4 as Typhoon Julian gains strength

Image from DOST / Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) hoisted Signal No. 4 in Batanes on Sunday evening as Typhoon Julian further approached the region.

As of 7 p.m., the eye of the typhoon was estimated at 190 kilometers (kms) east northeast of Calayan, Cagayan or 150 kms east southeast of Basco, Batanes.

Julian is now packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts reaching up to 170 kph, moving northwest at a speed of 15 kph, according to the state weather bureau’s latest bulletin.

READ: Julian strengthens into a typhoon, signal No. 3 up in Babuyan Islands

Batanes is expected to experience winds ranging from 118 to 184 kph within the next 12 hours, which causes significant to severe threat to life and property in affected areas.

“Significant to severe impacts from typhoon-force winds are possible within any of the localities where wind signal no. 4 is hoisted,” Pagasa added.

State meteorologists also urged the public to evacuate low-lying areas and riverbanks and to avoid coastal regions for possible flooding and storm surge.

“There is a moderate to high risk of life-threatening storm surges in the next 48 hours for low-lying and exposed coastal areas of Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and northern mainland Cagayan,” the latest bulletin read.

Pagasa said Julian may continue to gather strength over the next 48 hours and may reach super typhoon status before making landfall in southern Taiwan.

During this intensification period, Julian may pass near or over Batanes, the agency added.