Tropical Depression Kiyapo Nears Tropical Storm Category, Bringing Heavy Rains to Northern Luzon

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Depression Kiyapo may intensify into a tropical storm within a few hours, the weather bureau said late Thursday evening, July 23. Kiyapo had slightly intensified early Thursday evening, with its maximum sustained winds increasing from 45 kilometers per hour to 55 km/h. Its gustiness also went up from 55 km/h to 70 km/h. Under the classification of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), a tropical storm has maximum sustained winds of 62 to 88 km/h. Kiyapo was last spotted 535 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, or 550 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan, as of 10 pm on Thursday. It maintained its relatively fast movement, heading west northwest at 30 km/h. Kiyapo remains likely to pass close to the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan on Friday morning or afternoon, July 24, then pass very close to or make landfall in Cagayan’s Babuyan Islands in the afternoon or evening. “It will continue to strengthen while traversing extreme Northern Luzon and may intensify into a severe tropical storm after passing the Babuyan Islands,” added PAGASA. Within the next 48-hour period, Kiyapo is expected to dump moderate to intense rain in up to 10 provinces in Northern Luzon. Floods and landslides are likely. Thursday evening, July 23, to Friday evening, July 24 Heavy to intense rain (100-200 millimeters): Batanes, Cagayan, Apayao, Ilocos Norte Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Isabela, Abra, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga, Benguet, La Union Friday evening, July 24, to Saturday evening, July 25 Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Apayao Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Batanes, Cagayan, Kalinga, Benguet, La Union The southwest monsoon or habagat also continues to trigger considerable rainfall, especially in parts of the Visayas and Mindanao. Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Antique, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental Saturday evening, July 25, to Sunday evening, July 26 Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Occidental Mindoro Must Read [Walang Pasok] Class suspensions, Friday, July 24, 2026 As Kiyapo will be bringing strong winds, Signal No. 1 is in effect for the following provinces as of 11 pm on Thursday: Batanes Cagayan including Babuyan Islands Isabela Nueva Vizcaya Quirino Apayao Abra Kalinga Mountain Province Ifugao Benguet Ilocos Norte Ilocos Sur La Union northern and central parts of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao) The highest possible tropical cyclone wind signal due to Kiyapo could be Signal No. 2, but PAGASA is not ruling out Signal No. 3 if Kiyapo becomes a severe tropical storm while crossing the Batanes-Babuyan Islands area. PAGASA added that the southwest monsoon and the periphery or outer bands of the tropical cyclone will bring strong to gale-force gusts to these areas: Friday, July 24 most of the country Saturday, July 25 most of Luzon, most of Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Davao Oriental, Dinagat Islands In addition, the weather bureau updated coastal warnings for the next 24 hours. Up to very rough seas (travel is risky for all vessels) Seaboards of Batanes and Babuyan Islands – waves up to 5.5 meters high Northeastern seaboard of mainland Cagayan; northern seaboard of Ilocos Norte – waves up to 4.5 meters high Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea) Remaining seaboards of mainland Cagayan and Ilocos Norte; eastern seaboard of Davao Oriental – waves up to 3 meters high Up to moderate to rough seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible) Seaboards of Isabela and Surigao del Sur – waves up to 2.5 meters high Seaboards of Ilocos Sur, Aurora, Cagayancillo Islands, and Davao Occidental; northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands and Catanduanes; northern seaboards of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur; eastern seaboards of Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and Dinagat Islands; western seaboards of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani; southern seaboards of Iloilo, Zamboanga del Sur, and Davao Oriental; southern and western seaboards of Guimaras and Negros Occidental – waves up to 2 meters high Kiyapo is the Philippines’ 11th tropical cyclone for 2026, and the fourth for July alone. It is seen to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Saturday morning, July 25. – Rappler.com