Typhoon “Leon” on Thursday weakened from a super typhoon while passing close to southern Taiwan’s Orchid Island, according to state weather bureau PAGASA’s 11 a.m. bulletin.
The center of its eye was estimated at 155 kilometers north of Itbayat, Batanes.
It was moving northwestward at 25 kilometers per hour (kph), packing maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 215 kph.
Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 3 was raised in Batanes, while signal no. 2 was in effect over the Babuyan Islands.
Meanwhile, signal no. 1 was hoisted over mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Ifugao, the northern portion of Benguet (Mankayan, Bakun, Buguias), Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur.
The typhoon is forecast to make landfall along the eastern coast of Taiwan on Thursday afternoon.
After crossing the landmass of Taiwan, Leon will then turn northeastward over the Taiwan Strait toward the East China Sea and exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday night or Friday early morning.
