Typhoon Kiko has weakened as it moves closer to the coast of Taiwan, but it is being enhanced by the southwest monsoon, which may deliver moderate to heavy rainfall to the western portion of Luzon.
Kiko is positioned 245 kilometers north of Itbayat, Batanes, and is heading northward at 15 kilometers per hour (kph), according to Grace Castaeda, a weather specialist with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
It has sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour with gustiness of up to 215 kilometers per hour.
“Inaasahan na sa bahagi ng Batanes ay makararanas ng masungit na panahon dulot ni bagyong Kiko—samantala, para sa nalalabing bahagi ng Luzon ay magiging bahagyang maulap hanggang maulap ang kalangitan. Asahan pa rin ang tiyansa ng pulo-pulong pag-ulan, pagkulog at pagkidlat lalo na sa hapon at sa gabi,” she said.
“Si Kiko ay bahagyang humihina ngunit mananatili ito within typhoon category at inaasahan na lalabas ng Philippine Area of Responsibility mamayang hapon o gabi,” she added.
Typhoon Kiko will be 740 kilometers north of Itbayat, Batanes, in the next 24 hours, outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
PAGASA raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 over the northern portion of Batanes and TCWS No. 1 over the northern portion of Babuyan islands and the rest of Batanes.
The gale warning raised over the western coast of Palawan, including Calamian and Kalayaan islands, remains due to the intensified southwest monsoon.
“Hindi natin pinapayagan pumalaot ang ating mga kababayang mangingisda, gayon na rin ang may mga maliliit na sasakyang pandagat,” she said.
