Typhoon Leon continues to strengthen east of Cagayan
MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Leon (Kong-rey) continued to intensify over the Philippine Sea on Tuesday evening, October 29, as its maximum sustained winds reached 155 kilometers per hour from 150 km/h.
Its gustiness also went up to 190 km/h from 185 km/h, based on the 11 pm bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
As of 10 pm, Leon was already 450 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan, moving northwest at a slightly faster 15 km/h from 10 km/h.
PAGASA still expects Leon to rapidly strengthen further over the Philippine Sea. It could already be a super typhoon by Wednesday evening, October 30, although it may be downgraded back to a typhoon by Thursday morning, October 31.
Leon is projected to keep moving northwest over the Philippine Sea until it makes landfall along Taiwan’s eastern coast on Thursday afternoon. Taiwan is within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
But the weather bureau is not ruling out landfall in Batanes. Leon will be closest to the province between early morning and noon of Thursday.
“Leon will likely be at or near super typhoon intensity during its closest point of approach to Batanes,” PAGASA said.
Floods and landslides are likely as Leon is bringing moderate to torrential rain until Thursday evening.
Tuesday evening, October 29, to Wednesday evening, October 30
- Intense to torrential rain (more than 200 millimeters): Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Isabela, Occidental Mindoro, Antique
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Ilocos Sur, Abra, Kalinga, Calamian Islands, Romblon, Negros Occidental, Aklan
Wednesday evening, October 30, to Thursday evening, October 31
- Intense to torrential rain (more than 200 mm): Batanes, Babuyan Islands
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): mainland Cagayan, Occidental Mindoro
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Ilocos Norte, Abra, Zambales, Bataan, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Calamian Islands, Romblon, Antique, Aklan
Thursday evening, October 31, to Friday evening, November 1
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Batanes, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Calamian Islands, Occidental Mindoro
As for tropical cyclone wind signals, Signal No. 2 is in effect for more areas as of 11 pm on Tuesday. But there are a few areas no longer under a wind signal as Leon is generally moving upward.
Signal No. 2
Gale-force winds (62 to 88 km/h), minor to moderate threat to life and property
- Batanes
- Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
- northern and eastern parts 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, Cauayan City, San Guillermo, Angadanan, Cabatuan, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Roxas, Aurora, San Manuel)
- Apayao
- Kalinga
- northern and eastern parts of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Malibcong, Lagayan, San Juan, Lagangilang, Licuan-Baay, Daguioman)
- eastern part of Mountain Province (Paracelis)
- Ilocos Norte
Signal No. 1
Strong winds (39 to 61 km/h), minimal to minor threat to life and property
- rest of Isabela
- Quirino
- Nueva Vizcaya
- rest of Mountain Province
- Ifugao
- Benguet
- rest of Abra
- Ilocos Sur
- La Union
- eastern part of Nueva Ecija (General Tinio, Gabaldon, Bongabon, Carranglan, Pantabangan, Laur, Rizal)
- Aurora
- northern part of Quezon (Infanta, General Nakar) including Polillo Islands
- Camarines Norte
- northern part of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan)
- northern and eastern parts of Catanduanes (Pandan, Gigmoto, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Baras, Caramoran)
The highest possible tropical cyclone wind signal due to Leon is either Signal No. 3 or 4, “especially in Batanes and Babuyan Islands.” But PAGASA is not ruling out the raising of Signal No. 5 if Leon reaches super typhoon status.
“The wind flow coming towards the circulation” of the typhoon is bringing strong to gale-force gusts to localities outside wind signal areas, too:
Wednesday, October 30
- Bataan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, most of Visayas, Dinagat Islands
Thursday, October 31
- Aurora, Quezon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Dinagat Islands
In addition, PAGASA warned Batanes and Cagayan including Babuyan Islands that they face a moderate to high risk of “life-threatening” storm surges “reaching 2 to 3 meters above normal tide levels” in the next 48 hours.
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The weather bureau maintained the following forecast for sea conditions in the next 24 hours:
Up to very rough or high seas (travel is risky for all vessels)
- Seaboards of Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and northeastern mainland Cagayan – waves up to 10 meters high
- Remaining eastern seaboard of mainland Cagayan – waves up to 8 meters high
- Seaboards of Isabela; remaining northern seaboard of mainland Cagayan – waves up to 7 meters high
- Northern seaboard of Ilocos Norte – waves up to 6 meters high
- Seaboard of northern Aurora; northern seaboard of Catanduanes – waves up to 4.5 meters high
Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea)
- Remaining seaboard of Ilocos Norte; northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands; seaboard of Camarines Norte; northern seaboard of Camarines Sur; eastern seaboard of Catanduanes – waves up to 4 meters high
- Seaboard of Ilocos Sur; eastern seaboards of Albay and Sorsogon; northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar – waves up to 3.5 meters high
- Eastern seaboard of mainland Quezon, Camarines Sur, Eastern Samar, and Dinagat Islands; remaining seaboards of Ilocos Region – waves up to 3 meters high
Up to moderate seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible)
- Seaboards of Zambales, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Kalayaan Islands – waves up to 2.5 meters high
- Remaining seaboards of Luzon and Visayas; northern seaboard of Mindanao – waves up to 2 meters high
After crossing Taiwan, Leon is expected to head for the East China Sea and exit PAR on Thursday evening or early Friday morning, November 1.
PAGASA said another landfall in mainland China is not being ruled out.
Leon is the Philippines’ 12th tropical cyclone for 2024, and the second for October. – Rappler.com