Super Typhoon Leon moves closer to Batanes, Signal No. 4 stays

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 remains in effect over  Batanes as Super Typhoon Leon (international name: Kong-Rey) barrels toward the province, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Friday night.

Pagasa, in its latest typhoon bulletin said raising TCWS No. 5 over Batanes is possible, should Leon veer to the left of its forecast track.

 As of 7:00 p.m., Leon was located some 190 kilometers (km) east of Basco, Batanes, or 25 km closer since Pagasa’s 5 p.m. typhoon update.

Leon, while moving northwest at 25 kilometers per hour (kph), has maintained its strength, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kph and gustiness of up to 230 kph.

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

Other provinces in Luzon are under lower typhoon signals.

Signal No. 3 (Wind speed from 89 to 117 kph in the next 18 hours)

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

Signal No. 2 (Wind speed from 62 to 88 kph within 24 hours)

• Rest of Babuyan Islands,
• Rest of mainland Cagayan, 
• Northern portion of Isabela (Santo Tomas, Santa Maria, Quezon, Delfin Albano, San Pablo, Ilagan City, Tumauini, Cabagan, Palanan, Quirino, Divilacan, Mallig, Maconacon, Gamu, Burgos, Roxas, San Mariano, Reina Mercedes, San Manuel, Naguilian, Benito Soliven)
• Apayao
• Kalinga
• Northern and eastern portions of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Malibcong, Lagayan, San Juan, Lagangilang, Licuan-Baay, Daguioman)
• Eastern portion of Mountain Province (Paracelis) and 
• Ilocos Norte

Signal No. 1 (Wind speed from 39 to 61 kph within 36 hours)

• 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 and 
• The northeastern portion of Tarlac (Camiling, San Clemente, Paniqui, Moncada, Anao, San Manuel, Pura, Ramos, Victoria, Gerona, Santa Ignacia, City of Tarlac, La Paz)

Storm Surge

 A storm surge warning also remains in effect in Batanes and Babuyan Islands, said Pagasa.

 “Within the next 48 hours, there is a high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights exceeding 3.0 meters above normal tide levels over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Batanes and Babuyan Islands,” said Pagasa.

A storm surge refers to the abnormal rise in sea level that occurs during tropical cyclones which result in heavy flooding.