State weather bureau PAGASA warned late Monday evening that severe tropical storm ‘Leon’ may landfall over Batanes and is expected to rapidly intensify while crossing the Philippine Sea.
As such, a heavy rainfall outlook was advised in affected areas currently placed under tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) no. 1, especially since ‘Leon’ reaching typhoon category within 12 hours was not ruled out.
“There is an increasing chance that ‘Leon’ will reach super typhoon category during its period of closest approach to Batanes,” PAGASA noted further in its 11:00 p.m. weather bulletin.
As of this posting, the areas under TCWS No. 1 include the following:
- LUZON – Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, the northern portion of Benguet (Bakun, Kibungan, Atok, Bokod, Mankayan, Buguias, Kabayan), Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Aurora, the northern portion of Quezon including Polillo Islands (General Nakar, Infanta, Real), Camarines Norte, the eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, Lagonoy, San Jose, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Presentacion, Tigaon, Calabanga, Saglay), Catanduanes, the eastern portion of Albay (Rapu-Rapu, Bacacay, City of Tabaco, Tiwi, Malilipot, Malinao, Santo Domingo, Manito), and the northeastern portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz, City of Sorsogon, Gubat)
- VISAYAS – The eastern portion of Northern Samar (San Roque, Pambujan, Catubig, Laoang, Palapag, Gamay, Lapinig, Mapanas, Mondragon) and the northern portion of Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Arteche, Oras, San Policarpo)
The eye of the storm was last monitored at 705 kilometers east of Echague, Isabela. PAGASA said it was moving westward slowly with maximum sustained winds of 100 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 125 km/h.
It was forecast to move at 580 km east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan by Tuesday morning. It was expected to keep moving west northwestward until it makes a landfall along the eastern coast of Taiwan.
“After crossing the landmass of Taiwan, ‘Leon’ will then turn to the north towards the East China Sea and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday morning or afternoon,” PAGASA said in its advisory.
