Signal No. 1 remains in 22 areas as Leon maintains strength

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remains hoisted over 22 areas in Luzon and in the Visayas as Severe Tropical Storm Leon maintains its strength, the state weather bureau PAGASA said in its 11 p.m. bulletin on Monday.

According to the 11 p.m. bulletin, the following areas are under Signal No. 1: 

• 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
• La Union
• 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)
• 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)
• The northern portion of Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Arteche, Oras, San Policarpio)

Leon was last spotted 705 kilometers east of Echague, Isabela with a maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 125 kilometers per hour.

It is moving westward slowly while meandering over the Philippine Sea, the state weather bureau added.

The tropical storm is expected to intensify into a typhoon category within the next 12 hours. It may also reach a super typhoon category during its period of closest approach to Batanes, PAGASA also said.

Leon is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday morning or afternoon.

—Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News