Typhoon Kiyapo has exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), but Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 remains active over parts of Northern Luzon as the storm and the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat) continue to bring heavy rain and strong winds, PAGASA reported on Saturday, July 25.
PAGASA weather specialist Veronica Torres noted that the cyclone cleared the boundary around 2:00 AM and is internationally named Noul.
“Itong si Bagyong Kiyapo ay lumabas na ng ating Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) kaninang alas dos ng madaling araw. Ito ay may international name na ‘Noul’. Ngayon ay nasa Typhoon category na itong si Bagyong Kiyapo,” Torres said.
As of 4:00 AM, the center of the typhoon was located 320 kilometers west of Basco, Batanes. Moving west-northwest at 25 kph, it carried maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gusts of up to 150 kph.
PAGASA projects the storm to head northwest toward southern mainland China, where it is expected to make landfall.
“Inaasahan natin na tatahakin nito ang direksyong northwest bago mag-landfall sa may southern mainland China. Due to favorable conditions, posible itong lumakas pa in the next 12 hours, although papalayo naman ito sa ating bansa. Once na ito ay mag-landfall, inaasahan na ’yung tuluyan pa niyang paghina,” Torres explained.
Despite its exit, TCWS No. 1 remains hoisted over Batanes, the Babuyan Islands, the northwestern portion of mainland Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, and the northern portion of Apayao.
“Kahit nakalabas na sa ating PAR itong mino-monitor nating bagyo, meron parin tayong nakataas na Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal: Signal No. 1 sa may Batanes, Babuyan Islands, sa may northwestern portion ng mainland Cagayan, sa may Ilocos Norte, at sa northern portion din ng Apayao,” Torres added.
The state weather bureau warned that the typhoon’s outer circulation, combined with the enhanced southwest monsoon, will bring strong wind gusts across broad areas.
For Saturday, gusts are forecast over most of Luzon, Western Visayas, the Negros Island Region, Northern Samar, Zamboanga del Norte, and Davao Oriental.
Similar gusty conditions will persist on Sunday across Batanes, Cagayan, the Ilocos Region, Zambales, Bataan, Quezon, and Mimaropa.