State weather bureau PAGASA elevated tropical cyclone wind signals across extreme northern Luzon on Friday morning, July 24, 2026, as Tropical Storm Kiyapo — carrying the international name Noul — pushed steadily westward and threatened to make landfall over the Babuyan Islands before the day was out.
According to PAGASA's 5:00 a.m. bulletin, the storm's center was tracked at 345 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan, charging west-northwestward at a forward speed of 30 kilometers per hour. Maximum sustained winds near the center were clocked at 65 kph, with gusts reaching up to 80 kph. The storm's central pressure stood at 998 hPa at the time of the report.
Which Areas Are Under Signal Warnings
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 — which signals gale-force winds of 62 to 88 kph expected within 24 hours — has been raised over Batanes, the Babuyan Islands, and 12 municipalities in the northern portion of mainland Cagayan: Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Santa Teresita, Buguey, Camalaniugan, Aparri, Ballesteros, Abulug, Pamplona, Sanchez-Mira, Claveria, and Santa Praxedes. Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte is likewise under Signal No. 2, PAGASA said.
A broader area falls under Signal No. 1, which covers the remaining towns of mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, the rest of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and the northern and central sections of Aurora. Signal No. 1 warns of strong winds of 39 to 61 kph anticipated within 36 hours.
PAGASA did not dismiss the possibility of Signal No. 3 being hoisted if Kiyapo continues to strengthen into a severe tropical storm while crossing the Batanes-Babuyan corridor.
Forecast Track: Crossing Babuyan, Exiting the PAR by Saturday
The weather bureau said Kiyapo will continue on a west-northwestward path toward the Luzon Strait before gradually curving northwestward to northward. The storm's center may pass close to the northeastern coast of mainland Cagayan sometime between Friday morning and afternoon.
By Friday afternoon to evening, PAGASA forecast that the center could pass very close to or make direct landfall over the Babuyan Islands. The storm is projected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Saturday morning.
Once Kiyapo clears the Babuyan group and moves into the West Philippine Sea, PAGASA said it may be upgraded to a severe tropical storm and could undergo rapid intensification, potentially reaching typhoon intensity before striking southern mainland China — where it is expected to weaken as it moves further inland.
Southwest Monsoon to Amplify Wind Hazards Nationally
Kiyapo's approach is not only a hazard along its direct path. PAGASA warned that the storm's outer rainbands will enhance the southwest monsoon, spreading strong to gale-force gusts across most of the country on Friday — with coastal and upland areas most exposed to the enhanced winds bearing the greatest risk.
Gusty conditions are forecast to linger over the greater portion of Luzon and the Visayas on Saturday, as well as over Zamboanga del Norte and Davao Oriental. By Sunday, the zone of concern is expected to contract to the Ilocos Region, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, and the Kalayaan Islands, according to PAGASA's bulletin.
Dangerous Seas Along Northern Seaboards
A gale warning remains active over the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon. PAGASA projected wave heights of up to 5.5 meters off Batanes and the Babuyan Islands, and seas reaching up to 4.5 meters off the northern coasts of mainland Cagayan and Ilocos Norte. The weather bureau characterized sea travel across those waters as hazardous for all vessel types and tonnages.
Rough seas of up to 3.0 meters are forecast along the remaining seaboards of mainland Cagayan and Ilocos Norte, and along the eastern seaboard of Davao Oriental. Moderate to rough seas reaching up to 2.0 meters were also forecast over select waters in the Visayas and Mindanao — including the southern and western seaboards of Guimaras and Negros Occidental, and the southern seaboard of Iloilo — PAGASA reported.
The weather bureau specifically advised operators of motorbancas and other small watercraft in those areas to exercise caution and take all necessary precautionary measures given the elevated sea state.
PAGASA Calls on Local Disaster Offices to Prepare
PAGASA urged local disaster risk reduction and management offices in all affected areas to immediately activate protective measures for both lives and property. Residents living in areas identified as highly susceptible to wind damage and rainfall-induced hazards were advised by the weather bureau to strictly follow any evacuation orders issued by their local government officials.
The agency's next scheduled bulletin was set for release at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, July 24, 2026.
By the Numbers
- 345 km — Kiyapo's distance east of Aparri, Cagayan, as of the 5:00 a.m. bulletin
- 65 kph — Maximum sustained winds near the storm's center
- 80 kph — Peak gusts recorded near Kiyapo's center
- 998 hPa — Central pressure of Tropical Storm Kiyapo
- 30 kph — Storm's forward speed moving west-northwestward
- 12 towns — Northern Cagayan municipalities placed under Signal No. 2
- 5.5 meters — Maximum forecast wave height off Batanes and Babuyan Islands
- 4.5 meters — Forecast wave height off northern Cagayan and Ilocos Norte seaboards
- 2.0 meters — Moderate to rough seas forecast over parts of Visayas and Mindanao waters
Why This Matters
Tropical Storm Kiyapo presents a serious and immediate threat to communities across extreme northern Luzon, with Signal No. 2 already in force and PAGASA leaving open the possibility of a Signal No. 3 upgrade should the storm gain strength before crossing the Batanes-Babuyan area. The gale warning and towering wave forecasts of up to 5.5 meters effectively cut off safe maritime access to some of the country's most remote island communities for the duration of the storm's passage. Meanwhile, Kiyapo's enhancement of the southwest monsoon means that wind and sea hazards will extend far beyond the storm's immediate track, affecting communities across Luzon, the Visayas, and parts of Mindanao well into the weekend.
Source: breakingnewsnegros.com / PAGASA bulletin, July 24, 2026