Leon now a super typhoon – Pagasa

Pagasa weather update. GRAPHICS BY INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines (Updated) — Tropical cyclone Leon (international name: Kong-Rey) has developed into a super typhoon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

LIVE UPDATES: Severe Tropical Storm Leon  

In its 11 a.m. bulletin on Wednesday, Pagasa said Leon’s eye was last seen 360 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan. It has maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 230 kph.

READ: Leon intensifies as it moves over Philippine Sea

It is moving west-northwestward at 10 kph.

According to Pagasa, Leon is forecast to move northwestward over the Philippine Sea until it makes landfall along the eastern coast of Taiwan on Thursday afternoon.

“After crossing the landmass of Taiwan, Leon will then turn north-northwestward to northeastward over the Taiwan Strait towards the East China Sea and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility tomorrow evening or Friday early morning,” said Pagasa.

The weather disturbance is seen to be “closest” to Batanes from late Wednesday to early Thursday, and a landfall scenario in Batanes is still not ruled out.

“This super typhoon will be near or at peak intensity during its closest point of approach to Batanes. The landfall of Leon over Taiwan will result in a continuous weakening trend for the rest of the forecast period,” said Pagasa.

Presently, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 is hoisted over Batanes, the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands, and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan.

The following areas, meanwhile, were placed under Signal No. 2:

• The rest of Babuyan Islands
• The rest of mainland 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, 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, on the other hand, was raised in the following areas:

• 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)