yphoon "Juan" has retained its 140-kph winds by early Saturday evening, but it has picked up speed and is now expected to make landfall in Cagayan province by Monday morning instead of the previous forecast of a Monday-afternoon landfall.
Juan (international codename "Megi") was last spotted 820 kilometers east of northern Luzon, still heading towards Northern Luzon at a speed of 24 kph, from its previous speed of 20 kph.
Its sustained winds near the center and gustiness both remained unchanged at 140 kph and 170 kph, respectively, Nathaniel Servando, deputy administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), told GMA News’ “24 Oras" in an interview Saturday evening.
"Bumilis po ito kumpara kaninang umaga... at dahil bahagyang bumilis ito inaasahan na sa Lunes ng umaga ito ay tatama ng kalupaan sa may dalampasigan ng Cagayan," Servando said.
(It slightly picked up speed compared to this morning… and because of this, we expect that on Monday morning it will hit land along the Cagayan coast.)
Servando added that Juan’s higher speed also means the typhoon is expected to exit Luzon sooner, around Monday afternoon.
From Cagayan, Juan is forecast to pass through the provinces of Apayao and Ilocos Norte, before exiting into the South China Sea.
PAGASA warned that Juan could still gather strength while it remains over the Pacific Ocean.
"At kapag 185 kph na, maaring itaas namin ang pinakamataas na signal sa mga lalawigan na diretsang tatamaan ng bagyong ito," Servando said. (And when it reaches 185 kph, we may raise the highest signal in the provinces to be directly hit by this typhoon.)
Based on satellite images, Juan could bring between 200 and 300 millimeters of rainfall per hour in areas directly affected.—Mark D. Merueñas/JV
