Mabilis ang paglakas ng bagyong "Leon" (international name: Kong-Rey) habang nasa karagatan sa silangang bahagi ng Cagayan, ayon sa state weather bureau na PAGASA nitong Martes ng hapon.
Dakong 4 p.m., namataan si Leon sa layong 505 km east ng Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, o 515 km east ng Aparri, Cagayan, taglay ang pinakamalakas na hangin na 150 km/h at pagbugso ng hanggang 185 km/h.
Kumikilos ito pa-west northwestward sa bilis na 10 km/h.
Tinataya ng PAGASA na tatama ang mata ng bagyo sa kalupaan ng Taiwan sa Huwebes. Pero hindi rin inaalis ang posibilidad na tumama ito sa Batanes.
"Leon will be closest to Batanes between Thursday early morning and noon. A landfall in Batanes is also not ruled out,'' ayon sa PAGASA.
Inaasahan na lalabas ng Philippine Area of Responsibility si Leon sa Huwebes ng gabi o madaling araw ng Biyernes.
Samantala, nakataas ang Signal No. 2 sa mga lugar ng:
- Batanes
- Babuyan Islands
- 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, Reina Mercedes, Palanan, Quirino, Divilacan, Gamu, Mallig, Maconacon, Burgos)
- Apayao
- the northern portion of Kalinga (City of Tabuk, Balbalan, Pinukpuk, Rizal)
- the northern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Malibcong)
- Ilocos Norte
Signal No. 1 naman sa mga lugar ng:
- the rest of Isabela
- Quirino
- Nueva Vizcaya
- the rest of Kalinga
- Mountain Province
- Ifugao
- Benguet
- the rest of Abra
- Ilocos Sur
- La Union
- the eastern portion of Nueva Ecija (General Tinio, Gabaldon, Bongabon, Carranglan, Pantabangan, Laur, Rizal)
- Aurora
- the northern and eastern portion of Quezon (Infanta, Real, Mauban, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Calauag, General Nakar, Atimonan, Plaridel, Gumaca, Lopez, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan) including Polillo Islands
- Camarines Norte
- Camarines Sur
- Catanduanes
- Albay
- the northern portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz, City of Sorsogon, Gubat, Barcelona, Casiguran, Bulusan, Juban, Magallanes, Castilla, Pilar, Donsol)
Paalala ng PAGAS, ''The highest Wind Signal [that] may be hoisted during the occurrence of Leon is Wind Signal No. 3 or 4, especially in Batanes and Babuyan Islands."
Sa kalagitnaan ng Martes at Miyerkules ng hapon, intense to torrential rains (>200 mm) ang inaasahan sa Batanes at Cagayan kasama ang Babuyan Islands, at heavy to intense rains (100 to 200 mm) naman sa Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Isabela, Occidental Mindoro, at Antique.
Habang sa Ilocos Sur, Abra, Kalinga, Calamian Islands, Romblon, Negros Occidental, at Aklan, moderate to heavy rains (50 to 100 mm) ang asahan. —FRJ, GMA Integrated News
