Kiyapo maintains strength, Signal No. 1 over 11 areas

Tropical Depression Kiyapo maintains its strength while moving west northwestward over the Philippine Sea east of Central Luzon with Signal No. 1 hoisted over 11 areas, according to the Tropical Cyclone Bulletin posted by PAGASA.

The center of Tropical Depression Kiyapo was estimated at 950 kilometers east of Central Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center, gustiness of up to 55 km/h and moving West Northwestward at the speed of 20 km/h.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 is hoisted over the following areas:

Luzon

• Batanes
• Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
• Isabela
• Apayao
• Abra
• Kalinga
• the eastern and central portions of Mountain Province (Paracelis, Natonin, Barlig, Sadanga, Bontoc, Besao, Sagada)
• the eastern and central portions of Ifugao (Mayoyao, Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista, Banaue, Hingyon, Lagawe)
• Ilocos Norte
• the northern portion of Ilocos Sur (Cabugao, Sinait, San Juan, Magsingal, Santo Domingo, Bantay, San Ildefonso, San Vicente)
• the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran

Heavy Rainfall Outlook

Heavy rainfall outlook due to Tropical Cyclone Kiyapo on Friday is (100-200 mm) in Cagayan and Apayao; (50-100 mm) in Batanes, Isabela, Kalinga, Abra, and Ilocos Norte.

Heavy rainfall outlook due to Southwest Monsoon today is moderate to Heavy (50-100 mm) in Negros Oriental, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani.

Severe Winds

The Southwest Monsoon and the periphery of Kiyapo will bring strong to gale-force gusts over the following areas (especially in coastal and upland areas exposed to winds) in most of Mindanao, Siquijor, Bohol, and Southern Leyte.

A Gale Warning will be issued today or tomorrow early morning over the seaboards of Extreme Northern Luzon.

Mariners of small seacrafts, including all types of motorbancas, are advised not to venture out to sea under these conditions, especially if inexperienced of operating ill-equipped vessels.

Track and Intensity Outlook

PAGASA said Kiyapo will continue moving west northwestward until Saturday (25 July) towards the Luzon Strait before turning northwestward for the remaining of the forecast period.

"On the forecast track, the center of KIYAPO may pass very close to the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan between tomorrow morning and afternoon, then may pass very close or make landfall in the vicinity of Babuyan Islands between tomorrow afternoon and evening. It is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Saturday morning or noon," said PAGASA.

Kiyapo will gradually intensify while moving over the Philippine Sea and may reach tropical storm category tomorrow and will continue to strengthen while traversing the Extreme Northern Luzon and may intensify into a severe tropical storm after passing the Babuyan Islands. A weakening trend is expected once Kiyapo makes landfall in the vicinity of southern mainland China and moves further inland. — BAP, GMA News