(UPDATE) Typhoon Kiko (Chanthu) on Thursday intensified into the strongest storm to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility so far this year, threatening to hit land in extreme northern Luzon just days after storm Jolina (Conson) flooded the southern portion of the country's main island, PAGASA said.
The twin storms will enhance the habagat or southwest monsoon, bringing more rains to the Philippines' western coast, the weather bureau said.
Kiko was packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kph with 240 kph gusts, which falls under Signal no. 4, or one notch below Super Typhoon strength. At 4 p.m., it was spotted 550 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora.
It's now the Philippines' strongest storm of 2021 so far, PAGASA forecaster Raymond Ordinario told reportr.
The 11th storm of 2021 is expected to bring heavy rains to Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Batanes, and northern Isabela. It might make landfall over the northeastern portion of Cagayan before it heads to Taiwan, PAGASA said.
Signal no. 1 (30-60 kph winds) was raised over:
- Batanes
- Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
- Northeastern portion of Apayao (Luna, Pudtol, Flora, Santa Marcela)
- Northeastern portion of Isabela (Santa Maria, San Pablo, Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan)
Jolina, the 10th storm of the year, maintained its 85 kph winds and 105 kph gusts as it exits the country via the West Philippine Sea on Thursday night.
At 4 p.m, it was spotted 410 km west of Dagupan City, Pangasinan. All tropical cyclone wind signals due to Jolina have been lifted.
It will continue to bring light to moderate rains with at times heavy rains to Palawan, Western Visayas, and Zamboanga peninsula.
The twin storms enhanced the prevailing southwest monsoon or habagat, bringing rains over Palawan, Western Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula in the next 24 hours from 11 a.m. Thursday, the weather bureau said.
MORE WEATHER NEWS YOU CAN USE:
Up to Three Storms Likely to Enter Philippines in August: PAGASA
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Decoding Disaster Alerts: How to Prepare, When to Evacuate
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