Signal No. 2 up in 4 Luzon areas as Leon now a typhoon

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 is hoisted over four areas in Luzon as Typhoon Leon (international name: Kong-rey) intensified into a typhoon on Tuesday morning, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the following areas are under TCWS No. 2:

• Batanes
• Babuyan Islands
• The eastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Gattaran, Baggao, Lal-Lo, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Santa Teresita, Gonzaga, Santa Ana, Pe)
• The northeastern portion of Isabela (Divilacan, Palanan, Maconacon)

Meanwhile, TCWS No. 1 is raised over the following areas:

• The rest of mainland Cagayan
• The rest of Isabela
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Apayao
• Kalinga
• Abra
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• 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)

 

 

 

Increasing chance of becoming a super typhoon

According to PAGASA, Leon may also reach the super typhoon level.

“LEON will likely be at or near its peak intensity during its closest point of approach to Batanes. Furthermore, there is an increasing chance that LEON will reach super typhoon category,” PAGASA said

Leon may exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday evening or early Friday morning, according to PAGASA.

Leon is expected to be closest to Batanes between early Thursday morning and noon, PAGASA said. Its possible landfall over the province is not ruled out, the state weather bureau noted.

Leon was located 555 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan with maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 160 kph.

The typhoon was moving west-northwestward at 10 kph.

--VAL, GMA Integrated News