Kiyapo continues west northwest track; Signal No. 2 up in 4 areas

Tropical Storm Kiyapo continued its west northwestward track after making landfall over Camiguin Island in Calayan, Cagayan, on Friday afternoon, PAGASA said in its 5 p.m. bulletin.

As of 4 p.m., Kiyapo was over the coastal waters of Calayan Island, with maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 115 km/h.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 was raised over:

• Batanes
• the northern portion of Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Santa Teresita, Camalaniugan, Aparri, Ballesteros, Abulug, Pamplona, Sanchez-Mira, Claveria, Santa Praxedes, Buguey, Allacapan, Lal-Lo, Gattaran, Baggao, Lasam) including Babuyan Islands
• the northern portion of Apayao (Luna, Santa Marcela, Calanasan, Pudtol, Flora)
• the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Dumalneg, Adams, Bangui, Burgos, Vintar).

Under Signal No. 1 are:

• the rest of mainland Cagayan
• Isabela
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• the rest of Apayao
• Abra
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• the rest of Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• the northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao)

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):

• Friday: Most of the country.
• Saturday: Most of Luzon, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Cebu, Northern Samar, Zamboanga del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, and Davao Oriental.
• Sunday: Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Region, Zambales, Bataan, Quezon, and MIMAROPA.

Traveling west northwestward at 30 km/h, Kiyapo may develop into a severe tropical storm while or after passing the Babuyan Islands.

"While moving over the West Philippine Sea, it may undergo rapid intensification and reach typhoon category before making landfall over southern mainland China. Afterwards, Kiyapo is expected to weaken as it moves over mainland China," PAGASA said.

Kiyapo is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility between Friday evening and Saturday morning. —VBL, GMA News