Pagasa: TD Julian may still intensify

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) is expecting Tropical Depression (TD) “Julian” to intensify into a severe tropical storm by Sunday.

TD Julian was last located 425 kilometers east of Itbayat, Batanes at 5 p.m., with sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 55 kph. It was moving southwestward at 20 kph and is expected to move closer to Calayan, Cagayan.

The weather office raised Signal No. 1 over towns in Batanes and Cagayan province and said Julian may rapidly intensify. “[It is] seen to stay [within the Philippine Area of Responsibility] for a quite a bit as it is still expected to leave by Wednesday afternoon,” Pagasa weather specialist Ana Clauren-Jorda. —KATHLEEN DE VILLA

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