'Igme' slightly weakens, 'Julian' maintains strength; 3 areas remain under storm signals

Typhoon Igme (Tembin) slightly weakened after making landfall on southern Taiwan Friday morning, but may still be strong enough to loop back to the Philippines, PAGASA said Friday.

 

In its 11 a.m. advisory, PAGASA said Igme interacted with the rugged terrain of southern Taiwan but may return to the Philippines in 24 to 48 hours.

 

Typhoon Igme is forecast to make a counter-clockwise looping motion within the next 24 to 48 hours due to its interaction with Typhoon Julian.

 

PAGASA added Typhoon Igme is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rain over western section of the country.

 

Batanes remained under Storm Signal No. 2 while Calayan and Babuyan Islands remained under Storm Signal No. 1.

 

As of 10 a.m., PAGASA said Igme was estimated at 225 km north-northwest of Basco, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 130 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph. It was forecast to move west-southwest at 7 kph.

 

PAGASA said Igme may bring an estimated rainfall of 10 to 30 mm per hour (moderate to heavy) within its 500-km diameter.

 

"Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon due to big waves generated by Typhoon Igme," it said.

 

'Julian'

 

Meanwhile, PAGASA said Typhoon Julian (international codename Bolaven) maintained its strength as of 11 a.m.

 

As of 10 a.m., Julian was estimated at 1,040 km east of Basco, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 150 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph.

 

Julian was moving northwest at 13 kph, and is expected to be 820 km east-northeast of Basco, Batanes Saturday morning.

 

By Sunday morning it is expected to be 640 km northeast of Basco, Batanes. By Monday morning it is expected to be 740 km north-northeast of Basco, Batanes.

 

PAGASA said Julian may bring rainfall of 10 to 35 mm per hour (moderate to heavy) within its 600-km diameter.

 

Julian is also expected to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rain over the western section of the country, it added. –KG, GMA News