‘Leon’ now a super typhoon; threatens extreme Northern Luzon

Track of Super Typhoon Leon. (Photo: dost_pagasa/Facebook)

MANILA – Leon (international name Kong-Rey) further intensified into a super typhoon as it continues to threaten extreme Northern Luzon, the weather bureau said Wednesday.

The cyclone packs maximum sustained winds of 185 km. per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (PAGASA) 11 a.m. bulletin.

Leon was located 350 km. east of Calayan, Cagayan as of 10 a.m.

More areas were placed under tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) no. 3 namely Batanes, the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Is., Camiguin Is., Calayan Is.), and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana). These areas will experience strong to typhoon-force winds.

On the other hand, gale-force winds will prevail in areas under TCWS no. 2: the rest of Babuyan Islands, the rest of mainland Cagayan, the 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, the northern and eastern portions of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Malibcong, Lagayan, San Juan, Lagangilang, Licuan-Baay, Daguioman), the eastern portion of Mountain Province (Paracelis), and Ilocos Norte.

Strong winds will prevail in areas under TCWS no. 1 — 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, the northeastern portion of Tarlac (Camiling, San Clemente, Paniqui, Moncada, Anao, San Manuel, Pura, Ramos, Victoria, Gerona, Santa Ignacia, City of Tarlac, La Paz), the northern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Miguel), the northern portion of Quezon (Infanta, General Nakar) including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, the northern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan), and the northern and eastern portions of Catanduanes (Pandan, Gigmoto, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Baras, Caramoran).

PAGASA said TCWS no. 4 may be hoisted over Batanes this afternoon in anticipation of potentially destructive typhoon-force winds. The hoisting of TCWS no. 5 is not ruled out.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains are forecast in parts of Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Antique, Aklan, Negros and Iloilo.

Meanwhile, PAGASA reiterated that there is a moderate to high risk of life-threatening storm surge reaching 2 to 3 meters above normal tide levels in the next 48 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Batanes and Babuyan Islands.

Gale warning is still hoisted over the seaboard of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon.

Sea travel is risky for all types or tonnage of vessels, PAGASA said.