Julian strengthens into tropical storm

MANILA, Philippines – Julian intensified from a tropical depression into a tropical storm on Saturday morning, September 28, with its maximum sustained winds increasing from 55 kilometers per hour to 65 km/h.

Its gustiness is now up to 80 km/h from the previous 70 km/h, added the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in a briefing past 11 am on Saturday.

Julian has been given the international name Krathon, a name contributed by Thailand which refers to the santol fruit.