Storm Signal No. 2 has been raised over the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana) and the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands as "Julian" intensified into a severe tropical storm, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Sunday.

Signal No. 1 was up over Batanes, the rest of Cagayan, the rest of Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, the eastern and central portions of Mountain Province (Natonin, Paracelis, Sadanga, Barlig and Bontoc), the eastern portion of Ifugao (Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista and Mayoyao), Ilocos Norte, the northern portion of Ilocos Sur (Sinait, Cabugao, San Juan, Magsingal, Santo Domingo, Bantay, San Ildefonso and San Vicente, and the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag and Casiguran).

The center of the eye of "Julian" was estimated some 305 kilometers (kms) east of Aparri, Cagayan.

Moving west-northwestward at 10 kilometers per hour (kph), the storm has maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 115kph.

Weather specialist Daniel James Villamil said the storm may make landfall Monday over Batanes or Babuyan Islands.

Pagasa said Julian will continue to intensify and reach typhoon category either Sunday night or early Monday morning. It may even turn into a super typhoon.

"This tropical cyclone will be closest to Batanes and/or Babuyan Islands at or near peak intensity," Villamil said.

Pagasa said the trough of the storm is affecting Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon where isolated rain showers or thunderstorms would be likely.

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