MANILA, Philippines — "Kiyapo" has intensified into a tropical storm as it approaches the area of extreme Northern Luzon, according to the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-Pagasa).
According to its early morning bulletin, the center of Tropical Storm Kiyapo was last seen at 820 kilometers east of Northern Luzon and was moving west northwestward at 30 kilometers per hour (kph).
"Kiyapo" has maximum sustained winds of 65kph near the center and has gustiness of up to 80kph.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 has been declared in Batanes, the northern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Santa Teresita, Buguey, Camalaniugan, Aparri, Ballesteros, Abulug, Pamplona, Sanchez-Mira, Claveria, Santa Praxedes) including Babuyan Islands, and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud).
Winds greater than 62 kph and up to 88 kph in the next 24 hours are expected.
Meanwhile, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is now hoisted in the areas of Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, the rest of mainland Cagayan, the rest of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and the northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao)
Areas under Signal No. 1 should expect winds of 39-61 kph and intermittent rains in the next 36 hours.
Rainfall warnings have also been issued for parts of Northern Luzon with heavy rains affecting Batanes, Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte from Friday until Saturday afternoon, while light to moderate rains expected in Isabela,, Abra, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga, Benguet, and La Union.
Meanwhile, the rest of the country, including Metro Manila, can expect cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon that has been intensified by "Kiyapo."
Temperature high is at 32.1 degrees Celsius while the lowest is at 25.8 degrees Celsius.
