Kiyapo intensifies as it exits PAR; Signal No. 1 in 5 N. Luzon areas

MANILA, Philippines – Severe Tropical Storm Kiyapo (international name: Noul) has intensified into a typhoon as it exited the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) early Saturday morning, according to the state weather bureau.

In its early morning bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported that Kiyapo exited PAR at around 3 a.m.

It was last spotted some 320 kilometers (km.) west of Basco, Batanes, with a maximum wind speed of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of iup to 150 kph while moving west-northwest at 25 kph.

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Tropical cyclone wind signal number 1 is still up over Batanes, western portion of Babuyan Islands (Calayan, Dalupiri, Fuga Islands) northwestern part of mainland Cagayan (Pamplona, Sanchez-Mira, Claveria, Santa Praxedes, northern part of Apayao (Luna, Calanasan) and Ilocos Norte.

Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon or “habagat” will affect Central and Southern Luzon, as well as the Visayas and Mindanao on Saturday. /gsg