Leon about to exit PAR, wind signals lifted

Typhoon Leon is about to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) as all typhoon signals have been lifted, according to the late evening Tropical Cyclone Bulletin issued by PAGASA.

The center of the eye of Typhoon Leon was estimated at 445 kilometers north northwest of Itbayat, Batanes packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 165 km/h.

Leon is moving northwestward at the speed of 25 kph.

PAGASA has lifted all Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals.

Heavy rainfall outlook

The weather bureau said moderate to heavy rainfall is expected in Batanes, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, and Calamian Islands.

Severe Winds

The wind flow coming towards the circulation of LEON will also bring gusty conditions (strong to gale-force) over the following localities (especially in coastal and upland areas exposed to winds) outside Wind Signal areas for Friday: Batanes, Babuyan Islands, northeastern mainland Cagayan, and eastern Isabela.

Hazards affecting coastal waters

A Gale Warning is hoisted over the seaboard of Northern Luzon.

Strong to gale-force winds are prevailing or expected to affect the following areas:

The northern seaboard of northern luzon (Batanes) will have rains with gusty winds with rough to high coastal waters.

The northern seaboard of northern luzon (Babuyan Islands) and the Northern Coast Of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Bangui, Burgos) will have rains with gusty winds with rough to very rough sea condition.

The northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon - The Western Coast Of Ilocos Norte (Pasuquin, Bacarra, Laoag City, Paoay, Currimao, Pinili, Badoc), Mainland Cagayan, And Ilocos Sur will have cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms and sea conditions will be rough to very rough.

"Warnings are for sea areas within 30 nautical miles from the coast. In rough to high, very high, or phenomenal seas, sea travel is risky for vessels of any type or tonnage," PAGASA said

Track and Intensity outlook

PAGASA said that Typhoon Leon is now over Taiwan Strait and is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility within the next 6 hours.

"This tropical cyclone is expected to move northward in the next 12 hours then northeastward towards East China Sea for the rest of the forecast period. A second landfall over mainland China is not ruled out during this period," the agency added. — BAP, GMA Integrated News