Tropical Storm Kiyapo gained strength early Friday as it advanced toward Extreme Northern Luzon, prompting PAGASA to hoist Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 across several northern territories.
According to the weather agency’s 5:00 a.m. update, Kiyapo’s center was located 345 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan.
The storm packs maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center, with gusts reaching up to 80 km/h, while moving west-northwestward at a speed of 30 km/h.
The state weather bureau has placed the following regions under wind warnings:
- TCWS No. 2 (Gale-force winds between 62 to 88 km/h; minor to moderate threat):
- Batanes
- Babuyan Islands
- Northern mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Santa Teresita, Buguey, Camalaniugan, Aparri, Ballesteros, Abulug, Pamplona, Sanchez-Mira, Claveria, and Santa Praxedes)
- Northern Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud)
- TCWS No. 1 (Strong winds between 39 to 61 km/h; minimal to minor threat):
- Remaining areas of mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, the rest of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and northern/central Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, and Dipaculao)
PAGASA cautioned that TCWS No. 3 could still be declared if Kiyapo upgrades to a severe tropical storm while cutting across the Batanes-Babuyan area. Furthermore, the storm is enhancing the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat), bringing powerful wind gusts across large portions of the country on Friday, with widespread gusts extending over Luzon and the Visayas through Saturday.
A Gale Warning is currently active along Northern Luzon’s northern seaboard. Waves could reach dangerous heights of up to 5.5 meters around Batanes and the Babuyan Islands, and up to 4.5 meters along northern Cagayan and Ilocos Norte.
Maritime authorities advise all seacrafts to stay in port, as open sea navigation remains extremely perilous.
Forecast trajectories show Kiyapo moving west-northwestward over the Luzon Strait before shifting northwest to north. The system is expected to brush northeastern Cagayan through Friday afternoon before making a near-pass or direct landfall over the Babuyan Islands later today.
While the storm is projected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Saturday morning, meteorologists warn that Kiyapo could strengthen into a severe tropical storm near Babuyan and potentially undergo rapid intensification into a typhoon over the West Philippine Sea before heading toward southern China.
Local officials advise residents in flood- and landslide-prone sectors to stay vigilant, observe safety mandates, and closely track updates from official channels.