PAGASA: North Batanes under Signal No. 2 as Leon hits Taiwan

Typhoon Leon continued to affect the Philippines with Signal No. 2 raised over northern Batanes even after it made landfall in southeastern Taiwan.

According to PAGASA's tropical cyclone bulletin at 5 p.m., Leon was spotted at 4 p.m. to be 320 km north-northwest of Itbayat and in the vicinity to Chiayi County in Taiwan.

It had maximum sustained winds of 155 kph near the center, gustiness of up to 255 kph, and central pressure of 955 hPa.

It was moving northwestward at 25 kph.

Signal No. 1 has been hoisted over the following areas: 

• the rest of Batanes;
• Babuyan Islands;
• the northern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Praxedes, Sanchez-Mira, Claveria, Pamplona, Abulug, Ballesteros, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Gonzaga, Santa Teresita, Santa Ana);
• and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Bangui, Burgos, Dumalneg, Adams, Pagudpud). 

After crossing the landmass of Taiwan, state meteorologists said that Leon might exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday evening or Friday morning. 

“Leon is forecast to further weaken throughout the forecast period due to land interaction and marginally favorable environmental conditions,” PAGASA said.