Signal No. 4 in Batanes as Super Typhoon Leon looms

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 was raised over Batanes Wednesday afternoon as Super Typhoon Leon (international name: Kong-Rey) swirled closer to the province.

In its 2 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Leon’s eye was last located some 310 kiloemeters (km) east of Calayan, Cagayan.

Leon os packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph while moving northwest at 15 kph.

“Leon will be closest to Batanes from late evening today to tomorrow morning. A landfall in Batanes is also not ruled out,” said Pagasa.

“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,” it added.

Lower wind signals due to the super typhoon have also been raised in other parts of Luzon

 Signal No. 3

• Eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Is., Camiguin Is., Calayan Is.,)
• Northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana)

Signal No. 2

• Rest of Babuyan Islands
• Rest of mainland Cagayan
• 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
• Northern and eastern portions of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Malibcong, Lagayan, San Juan, Lagangilang, Licuan-Baay, Daguioman)
• Eastern portion of Mountain Province (Paracelis)
• Ilocos Norte
• Signal No. 1
• Rest of Isabela
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Rest of Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• the rest of Abra
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Pangasinan
• Nueva Ecija
• Aurora
• Northeastern portion of Tarlac (Camiling, San Clemente, Paniqui, Moncada, Anao, San Manuel, Pura, Ramos, Victoria, Gerona, Santa Ignacia, City of Tarlac, La Paz)
• Northern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Miguel)
• Northern portion of Quezon (Infanta, General Nakar) including Polillo Islands
  Camarines Norte
• Northern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan)
• Northern and eastern portions of Catanduanes (Pandan, Gigmoto, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Baras, Caramoran)

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

After crossing Taiwan, Leon is expected to turn north-northwest to northeast over the Taiwan Strait towards the East China Sea and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday evening or Friday early morning.