Tropical Storm Kiyapo strengthens further near Cagayan

Tropical Storm Kiyapo (Noul) is projected to pass very close to or make landfall in Cagayan's Babuyan Islands on Friday, July 24

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Storm Kiyapo (Noul) slightly intensified on Friday morning, July 24, as it moved closer to extreme Northern Luzon.

Kiyapo’s maximum sustained winds increased from 65 kilometers per hour to 75 km/h, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in its 11 am bulletin on Friday. The tropical storm’s gustiness is now up to 90 km/h from the previous 80 km/h.

Kiyapo also accelerated, moving west at 30 km/h from 20 km/h. It was already 135 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan, as of 10 am on Friday.

In the coming hours, the tropical storm will be passing close to the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan, then passing very close to or making landfall in Cagayan’s Babuyan Islands.

Kiyapo may also strengthen further into a severe tropical storm after passing the Babuyan Islands, followed by potential rapid intensification over the West Philippine Sea, where it could become a typhoon.

PAGASA’s latest rainfall advisory for Kiyapo, also issued at 11 am on Friday, shows moderate to intense rain may persist in Northern Luzon in the next 24 hours.

Friday noon, July 24, to Saturday noon, July 25

Heavy to intense rain (100-200 millimeters): Batanes, Cagayan, Apayao, Ilocos Norte Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Isabela, Kalinga, Abra, Benguet, Ilocos Sur, La Union

Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rain from the southwest monsoon or habagat could continue in several provinces on the western side of the country within 48 hours.

Friday noon, July 24, to Saturday noon, July 25

Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental

Saturday noon, July 25, to Sunday noon, July 26

Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Bataan, Occidental Mindoro

Affected areas must remain on alert for floods and landslides.

With Kiyapo moving closer to extreme Northern Luzon, some areas were upgraded to Signal No. 2 at 11 am on Friday. These are all the areas under tropical cyclone wind signals:

Signal No. 2

Gale-force winds (62 to 88 km/h), minor to moderate threat to life and property

Batanes northern part 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 northern part of Apayao (Luna, Santa Marcela, Calanasan, Pudtol, Flora) northern part of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Dumalneg, Adams, Bangui, Burgos, Vintar) Signal No. 1

Strong winds (39 to 61 km/h), minimal to minor threat to life and property

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

PAGASA might raise Signal No. 3 if Kiyapo becomes a severe tropical storm while crossing the Batanes-Babuyan Islands area.

The southwest monsoon and Kiyapo’s periphery or outer bands are also bringing strong to gale-force gusts to these areas:

Friday, July 24

Saturday, July 25

most of Luzon, most of Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Davao Oriental

Sunday, July 26

Ilocos Region, Mimaropa, Zambales, Bataan, Quezon

Moreover, moderate to very rough sea conditions persist in seaboards affected by Kiyapo and the southwest monsoon.

Up to very rough seas (travel is risky for all vessels)

Seaboards of Batanes and Babuyan Islands – waves up to 5.5 meters high Northern seaboards of mainland Cagayan and Ilocos Norte – waves up to 4.5 meters high

Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea)

Remaining seaboards of mainland Cagayan and Ilocos Norte; northeastern seaboard of Isabela; northern seaboard of Ilocos Sur; eastern seaboard of Davao Oriental – waves up to 3 meters high

Up to moderate to rough seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible)

Seaboards of Zambales and Surigao del Sur; northern seaboard of Aurora; western seaboard of Pangasinan; remaining seaboards of Isabela and Ilocos Sur – waves up to 2.5 meters high Seaboards of Cuyo Islands, Kalayaan Islands, Cagayancillo Islands, and Davao Occidental; northern seaboards of La Union, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur; northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands and Catanduanes; eastern seaboards of Albay, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Dinagat Islands, and Siargao-Bucas Grande Islands; western seaboards of Bataan, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, mainland Palawan including Calamian Islands and Negros Occidental; southern seaboards of Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Oriental, Davao Oriental, and Sarangani; remaining seaboard of Aurora – waves up to 2 meters high

Kiyapo is the Philippines’ 11th tropical cyclone for 2026, and the fourth for July alone. It may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Saturday morning, July 25, then head for China. – Rappler.com

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