Typhoon "Kiko" has maintained its strength while heading towards Babuyan Islands, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 11 p.m. bulletin on Friday, Sept. 10.
PAGASA said the typhoon was packing maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 265 kph while moving northwest at 20 kph.
"Further intensification into super typhoon is not ruled out. In such a scenario, TCWS #5 (tropical cyclone wind signal number 5) may be hoisted over some municipalities of Batanes and Babuyan Islands," PAGASA pointed out.
As of Friday evening, tropical cyclone wind signal number 4 has been hoisted over Batanes and northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands.
Signal No. 3 was also raised over the extreme northeastern portion of Cagayan and the rest of Babuyan Islands, while Signal No. 2 was up in the northern, central, and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan, northeastern portion of Isabela, and northern portion of Apayao.
Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 was in effect in the rest of mainland Cagayan, northern portion of Ilocos Norte, the rest of Apayao, northern portion of Kalinga, eastern portion of Mountain Province, northeastern portion of Abra, and northwestern and southeastern portions of Isabela.
PAGASA said that heavy to intense with at times torrential rains may prevail over the northeastern portion of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands and Batanes in the next 24 hours.
Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains may also affect Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, northern Isabela, and the rest of Cagayan.
PAGASA continues to warn against possible scattered to widespread flooding including flash floods and rain-induced landslides in these areas, especially those that are highly susceptible to these hazards.
In the next 24 hours, typhoon Kiko may also continue to enhance the southwest monsoon or "habagat" and bring rains over the western sections of Central and Southern Luzon and Western Visayas.
Kiko's intensity and track outlook
The center of the eye of the typhoon was located 135 kilometers east-southeast of Calayan, Cagayan at around 10 p.m.
"Between tonight (Sept. 10) and tomorrow evening (Sept. 11), typhoon Kiko will move northwestward or north-northwestward over the coastal waters of northeastern mainland Cagayan, Babuyan Islands, and Batanes," PAGASA said.
"The possibility of landfall over any of the islands of the Batanes-Babuyan archipelago is highly likely as the typhoon moves over these areas. Nevertheless, catastrophic conditions will be felt over these areas during the passage whether a landfall occurs or not," it added.
After traversing extreme northern Luzon, Kiko may move generally northward or north-northeastward beginning Sunday, Sept. 12, and will likely pass close to the east coast of Taiwan.
Typhoon Kiko may exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Sunday evening or early Monday morning, Sept. 13.