Severe Tropical Storm “Leon” (international name: Kong-Rey) slightly intensified in its passage across the Philippine Sea and is nearing typhoon category, the state weather bureau said on Tuesday.
In a 5 am advisory issued by PAGASA, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 has been hoisted over Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, 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, Camarines Norte, the eastern portion of Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, the eastern portion of Albay, the northeastern portion of Sorsogon, the eastern portion of Northern Samar and the northern portion of Eastern Samar.
The weather disturbance is moving west northwestward at 10 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 135 kilometers per hour.
Its center was last estimated at 645 km east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.
PAGASA may issue up to TCWS No. 3 or 4 in Extreme Northern Luzon during the occurrence of “Leon” and has not ruled out the possibility of hoisting TCWS No. 5.
Based on PAGASA’s forecast, Tropical Storm “Leon” will move generally west northwestward today, then turn northwestward tomorrow until it makes landfall along the eastern coast of Taiwan on Thursday afternoon or evening.
“There is an increasing possibility of further westward shift in the track forecast of “Leon” but within the limits of the forecast confidence cone. As such, a landfall or close approach scenario on Batanes is not ruled out,” it warned.
The weather disturbance is expected to rapidly intensify throughout its passage over the Philippine Sea and may reach typhoon category within the next 12 hours, and may reach super typhoon category during its period of closest approach to Batanes.
Severe Tropical Storm “Leon” is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday evening or early Friday morning.
