Batanes downgraded to Signal No. 4 as Leon heads toward Taiwan

MANILA, Philippines — After previously being under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 5, Batanes has been downgraded to Signal No. 4 as Super Typhoon Leon continues to move away from the province, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported early Thursday.

As of 8 a.m., the state weather bureau said Leon (international name: Kong-Rey) maintained its strength while moving northwestward near Batanes.

The center of its eye was last observed 110 km north-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 240 kph and was moving northwestward at 20 kph.

“Leon is now moving away from Batanes and heading towards Taiwan,” said Pagasa in its weather bulletin.

“This super typhoon has reached its peak intensity while passing close to Batanes. Leon may weaken into a typhoon over the next 12 hours prior to landfall over Taiwan,” it added.

Due to the weather disturbance, the following wind signals remained hoisted in several areas:

Signal No. 3:

• The northern portion of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Is.)

Signal No. 2:

• The rest of Babuyan Islands
• The northern portion of mainland Cagayan (Camalaniugan, Lal-Lo, Pamplona, Gonzaga, Santa Teresita, Baggao, Buguey, Claveria, Gattaran, Lasam, Aparri, Ballesteros, Abulug, Allacapan, Sanchez-Mira, Santa Praxedes, Santa Ana)
• The northern portion of Apayao (Pudtol, Luna, Santa Marcela, Calanasan, Flora)
• The northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Sarrat, Piddig, Bangui, Vintar, Burgos, Pagudpud, Bacarra, Adams, Pasuquin, Carasi, San Nicolas, Dumalneg, Laoag City)

Signal No. 1:

• The rest of Cagayan
• Isabela
• The rest of Apayao
• Abra
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• the northern portion of Benguet (Mankayan, Bakun, Buguias)
• the rest of Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur

Pagasa said Leon is forecast to move northwestward over the seas of extreme northern Luzon until it makes landfall along the eastern coast of Taiwan on Thursday afternoon.

LIVE UPDATES: Super Typhoon Leon

After crossing the landmass of Taiwan, Pagasa said Leon would then turn northeastward over the Taiwan Strait towards the East China Sea and exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday night or early Friday morning.

Leon intensifies as it moves over Philippine Sea