Signal No. 3 up over Batanes, eastern portion of Babuyan Is. as Leon further intensifies 

Signal No. 3 has been hoisted over Batanes and the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands as Typhoon Leon continued to pick up strength as it moves west northwestward over the Philippine Sea, PAGASA said.

In its 5 a.m. weather bulletin Wednesday, Leon is forecast to be closest to Batanes from Thursday early morning to noon time.   A landfall in the province is not being ruled out.

Leon is seen to rapidly intensify over the Philippine Sea until prior to landfall over Taiwan. It will "likely be at or near super typhoon intensity during its closest point of approach to Batanes," PAGASA added.

Leon was observed at 395 km east of Calayan, Cagayan with a maximum sustained winds of 165 kilometers per hour (km/h) and moving west northwestward at 15 km/h.

Signal No. 2 has been raised over the following areas. They will experience  winds of 62 km/h to 88 km/h over the next 24 hours:

• Cagayan
• the rest of Babuyan Islands
• 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, Palanan, Quirino, Divilacan, Gamu, Mallig, Maconacon, Burgos, City of Cauayan, San Guillermo, Angadanan, Cabatuan, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Roxas, Aurora, San Manuel)
• Apayao
• Kalinga
• the northern and eastern portions of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Malibcong, Lagayan, San Juan, Lagangilang, Licuan-Baay, Daguioman)
• the eastern portion of Mountain Province (Paracelis)
• Ilocos Norte

The following areas under Signal No. 1 may expect winds of 39 km/h to 61 km/h or intermittent rains over the next 36 hours:

• the rest of Isabela
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• the rest of Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• the rest of Abra
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Pangasinan
• Nueva Ecija
• Aurora
• the northeastern portion of Tarlac (Camiling, San Clemente, Paniqui, Moncada, Anao, San Manuel, Pura, Ramos, Victoria, Gerona, Santa Ignacia, City of Tarlac, La Paz)
•  the northern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Miguel)
• the northern portion of Quezon (Infanta, General Nakar) including Polillo Islands,
• Camarines Norte
•  the northern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan)
• the northern and eastern portions of Catanduanes (Pandan, Gigmoto, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Baras, Caramoran)

—LDF, GMA Integrated News