Wind signals lifted as Leon nears PAR exit

 

MANILA, Philippines — The state weather bureau on Thursday night lifted all tropical cyclone wind signals in the country as Typhoon Leon (international name: Kong-Rey) further weakened and prepared to to exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), in its  11:00 p.m. typhoon bulletin, reported that Leon was last spotted some 445 kilometers (km) north-northwest of Itbayat, Batanes, with a maximum sustained wind speed of 120 km per hour (kph),  gustiness of up to 165 kph, and moving northwest at 25 kph.

 “Leon is now over Taiwan Strait and is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility within the next 6 hours,” said Pagasa.

While no wind signals are currently hoisted over any parts of the country, Pagasa warned that gusty conditions—strong to gale-force winds—are still expected in Batanes, Babuyan Islands, northeastern mainland Cagayan, as well as eastern Isabela.