Leon slightly intensifies, nears typhoon category – Pagasa

Track of Severe Tropical Storm Leon (international name: Kong-rey) from Pagasa’s website.

MANILA, Philippines — Severe Tropical Storm Leon (international name: Kong-rey) slightly intensified Tuesday morning, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

According to Pagasa, it may reach the typhoon category within the next 12 hours.

In a 5 a.m. bulletin, the state weather bureau said Leon was last spotted some 645 kilometers (km) east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, packing maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour (kph) near its center and a gustiness of up to 135 kph.

Leon is moving west-northwestward at 10 kph,  Pagasa added.

READ: Leon intensifies further, Signal no. 1 up in Luzon, Visayas areas

Due to Leon’s intensification, the following areas are placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1:

Luzon

• Batanes
• Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands
• Isabela
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Apayao
• Kalinga
• Abra
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Aurora
• Northern portion of Quezon including Polillo Islands (General Nakar, Infanta, Real)
• Camarines Norte
• Eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, Lagonoy, San Jose, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Presentacion, Tigaon, Calabanga, Saglay)
• Catanduanes
• Eastern portion of Albay (Rapu-Rapu, Bacacay, City of Tabaco, Tiwi, Malilipot, Malinao, Santo Domingo, Manito)
• Northeastern portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz, City of Sorsogon, Gubat)

Visayas

• Eastern portion of Northern Samar (San Roque, Pambujan, Catubig, Laoang, Palapag, Gamay, Lapinig, Mapanas, Mondragon)
• Northern portion of Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Arteche, Oras, San Policarpo)

READ: LIVE UPDATES: Severe Tropical Storm Leon

According to Pagasa, areas under TCWS No. 1 will experience wind speeds of 39 kph to 61 kph within the next 36 hours, posing minimal to minor threats to life and property.

The state weather agency likewise said the wind flow coming towards the circulation of Leon will also bring strong to gale-force winds over areas of Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Visayas, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and Camiguin.

Pagasa hoisted a gale warning over the seaboards of Luzon and the eastern coasts of Central and Southern Luzon on Tuesday, October 29.

State meteorologists forecast Leon to track west-northwestward on Tuesday, then shift northwestward on Wednesday, with landfall expected along Taiwan’s eastern coast by Thursday afternoon or evening.

“After crossing the landmass of Taiwan, Leon will then turn to the northward to north northeastward towards the East China Sea and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday evening or early Friday morning,” Pagasa added.

Pagasa still has not ruled out the chance of Leon reaching the super typhoon category during its period of closest approach to Batanes.