Leon may dump over 200 millimeters of rain in Batanes, Cagayan

STORMY DAY. Passengers wait for rides in Elliptical Road, Quezon City, amid rains on Monday (Sept. 2, 2024). (PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler)

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Leon (international name: Kong-Rey) is expected to dump more than 200 millimeters of rainfall in Batanes and Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands, on Wednesday, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

In its heavy rainfall outlook, the state weather bureau said the 200-millimeter rainfall in Batanes and Babuyan Islands on October 30 is possible due to intense to torrential rains.

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

At present, tropical cyclone wind signal number 3 is still hoisted in Batanes and the eastern portion of the Babuyan Islands due to the weather disturbance.

At least 100 to 200 millimeters of rainfall may also be recorded in Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Isabela, and Occidental Mindoro, which means that heavy to intense rains are still expected in the areas.

Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rains due to Leon may trigger at least 50 to 100 millimeters of rainfall in Ilocos Sur, Abra, Kalinga, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, the Calamian Islands, Occidental Mindoro and Antique.

“Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are likely, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in hazard maps and in areas with significant antecedent rainfall,” said Pagasa.

On the other hand, dwellers in Metro Manila, Visayas, and the rest of Luzon may experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the trough or extension of Leon.

Localized thunderstorms may bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers in Mindanao.

Pagasa said Leon, the country’s 12th tropical cyclone in 2024, is forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday evening or Friday early morning.