Typhoon Julian intensifies into a typhoon on Sunday afternoon. PAGASA

MANILA — Tropical cyclone Julian intensified into a typhoon Sunday afternoon and is forecast to bring fierce winds and high waves over many coastal areas in northern Luzon, the state weather service said.

Typhoon Julian picked up speed and gained power as it approached the northernmost provinces of Luzon. 

The cyclone is now packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center, according to PAGASA's 2 p.m. weather bulletin.

READ: Julian intensifies; Signal No. 3 over part of Babuyan Islands

Julian may still intensify as it roars towards Batanes and Babuyan Islands and could reach the super typhoon category, the weather bureau warned.

Julian was located 275 kilometers east of Calayan town in Cagayan at 1 p.m. and generally tracked a west-northwestward path. It is forecast to accelerate north to north-northeastward over the waters east of Taiwan on Tuesday afternoon.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 remained hoisted over the northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands where powerful winds expected in at least 18 hours could destroy lightly built houses and knock down power.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 meanwhile has been raised over more areas including Batanes, mainland Cagayan, the rest of Babuyan Islands, Apayao, and the northern and central portions of Ilocos Norte. The areas are advised to prepare for strong winds that could unroof nipa and cogon houses and blow down trees.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 has been raised over the rest of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, the northern portion of La Union, Abra, Kalinga, Ifugao, Mountain Province, the northern and central portions of Benguet, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and the northern and central portions of Aurora.

Areas under the Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals are still under heavy rainfall warnings, which means flooding and rain-induced landslides are also possible, PAGASA said.

It added that Wind Signal No. 4 is still the highest signal that could be raised as Julian inflicts severe weather conditions in northern Luzon.

Extreme sea conditions are still predicted over the seaboards of Batanes and Babuyan Islands, where waves could reach up to 9 meters and 7 meters, respectively. 

PAGASA advised mariners and fishermen in the areas to avoid venturing out to sea amid the lashing winds.

The weather agency also said the wind flow coming towards the circulation of Typhoon Julian could also unleash strong to gale-force gusts over Aurora, Zambales, Bataan, Quezon, Pangasinan, Calabarzon, Romblon, and Bicol Region.