Leon intensifies as it moves over Philippine Sea

(Track of typhoon Leon from Pagasa)

(Satellite photo of typhoon Leon from Pagasa)

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Leon (international name: Kong-Rey) further intensified while moving over the Philippine Sea, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said early Wednesday morning.

In its 5 a.m. bulletin, Pagasa said Leon will be closest to Batanes early morning to noon on Thursday, adding that landfall in Batanes is also not ruled out.

The eye of the weather disturbance was last seen 395 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan. It has maximum sustained winds of 165 kilometers per hour (kph)  near the center, gustiness of up to 205 kph, and it is moving west northwestward at 15 kph.

“This tropical cyclone is forecast to continue rapidly intensifying over the Philippine Sea until prior to landfall over Taiwan. Leon will likely be at or near super typhoon intensity during its closest point of approach to Batanes,” said Pagasa.

At present, the following tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) number 3 is still hoisted in Batanes and the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands due to Leon.

TCWS No. 2, meanwhile, is still up in the following areas:

• The rest of the Babuyan Islands
• Cagayan
• The northern and eastern portions of Isabela (Santo Tomas, Santa Maria, Quezon, San Mariano, Naguilian, Dinapigue, Delfin Albano, San Pablo, Ilagan City, Benito Soliven, Tumauini, Cabagan, Palanan, Quirino, Divilacan, Gamu, Mallig, Maconacon, Burgos, City of Cauayan, San Guillermo, Angadanan, Cabatuan, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Roxas, Aurora and San Manuel)
• Apayao
• Kalinga
• The northern and eastern portions of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Malibcong, Lagayan, San Juan, Lagangilang, Licuan-Baay, Daguioman), the eastern portion of Mountain Province (Paracelis)
• Ilocos Norte

Signal No. 1 is also raised in the following places:

• The rest of Isabela
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• The rest of Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• The rest of Abra
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Pangasinan
• Nueva Ecija
• Aurora
• The northeastern portion of Tarlac (Camiling, San Clemente, Paniqui, Moncada, Anao, San Manuel, Pura, Ramos, Victoria, Gerona, Santa Ignacia, City of Tarlac, La Paz)
• The northern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Miguel)
• The northern portion of Quezon (Infanta, General Nakar), including Polillo Islands
• Camarines Norte
• The northern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan)
• The northern and eastern portions of Catanduanes (Pandan, Gigmoto, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Baras, Caramoran)

Pagasa said the highest wind signal that may be hoisted during the occurrence of Leon is Wind Signal No. 4, especially in Batanes and Babuyan Islands.

“The hoisting of Wind Signal No. 5 is also not ruled out,” it emphasized.